Smokey Bear 75th Anniversary GeoTour
Since 1944, Smokey Bear has taught millions of Americans about their role in preventing wildfires. 75 years later, Smokey is celebrating a milestone birthday. Honor him and this timeless message of wildfire prevention by finding all 75 caches in this GeoTour.
About This Specific Location
Placed with the permission of the Ohio Division of Forestry. You should not have to climb the firetower to access this geocache. This is 1 of 10 Smokey Bear geocaches in OH and 1 of 75 hidden on the entire GeoTour which is located in the following 7 states: VA, MD, OH, DE, NJ, PA and WV.
This 73-foot firetower was constructed in 1934. Land acquisition for Tar Hollow State Forest began in 1937 as the Ross-Hocking Land Utilization Project. During the 1930s, the federal government formed the Resettlement Administration to address the impoverished conditions on marginal agricultural areas across the nation.
The initial purpose of the program was to relocate families to more productive land, thereby enabling them to better sustain a living. Following the relocation, the Resettlement Administration initiated the Land Utilization Program. Through this program, unproductive and abandoned farmlands were acquired to promote forest management and provide recreational opportunities. The area around Tar Hollow State Forest, was one of these resettlement areas.
Restoration was started through the application of erosion control devices and the planting of the tree seedlings. Other improvements, including roads, numerous firebreaks, wildlife ponds and public facilities, were constructed, many with the assistance of such programs as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). For example, the CCC planted trees and constructed a fire tower at Tar Hollow State Forest. Operational control of this area was turned over to the Division of Forestry in 1939. In 1949, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) was formed, and management of adjoining lake and other recreational facilities (Tar Hollow State Park) was transferred to the ODNR Division of Parks. The Division of Forestry was transferred from the Agricultural Experiment Station to the new ODNR.
Management of the forest remained with the ODNR Division of Forestry. In September 1958, surface ownership of both park and forest land was transferred to ODNR from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM retained 75 percent of the mineral ownership under this land. Tar Hollow State Forest has become one of Ohio’s most beautiful and productive forests. Tar Hollow is Ohio’s third largest state forest, containing over 16,000 acres.
More About This GeoTour
By visiting all of these locations, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of why it is so important to prevent wildfires - whether in your backyard or out in the forest. The Middle-Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact are the Hosts of this GeoTour. We offer several trackable prizes so please use this GeoTour Passport to keep track of your progress.