GASTON, S.C. — Driving down Highway 321 in Lexington County stands Gaston Tower, which rises above everything else in town. Even though it was built about 75 years ago, it still serves a purpose.
The tower has been around for decades, but according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, it's the last of its kind here in Lexington County, and it spans 16 flights of stairs.
It's visible from miles away, and the Forestry Commission owns it.
"Way back when the agency started, or even before that, it was difficult to find wildfires. There weren't as many people, nobody had cell phones," Darryl Jones, a forestry protection chief, said. "And the technique then was - the best technology really around - was to put up a fire tower. Some are wood and most were metal and have somebody up in that tower on days when it was likely to burn or dry days, windy days and have them watch for fires."
In the 90s, most of these towers closed. The commission said that of the 130 towers in the state, only about 30 remain.
Today, the Gaston Tower serves a different purpose.
"The tower there in Gaston is one that has got some antennas on it and we will probably keep for a while, as we need it for a location to keep our radio network strong," Jones said.
The Lexington County Sheriff's Department said they use the house below the tower as a sub-station.
The commission said most of these towers are 80 to 100 feet, with some closer to 40 feet - a case of history standing tall helping prevent fires, even today.
According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, some places still staff these towers when there are dangerous fire conditions.
