Originally built in 1920 to help watch over the hills and valleys of central Schuylkill County, a towering piece of fire detection apparatus has a new home in Tamaqua.

On Saturday, volunteers with Tamaqua's South Ward Fire Company, Weiser Forest Fire Association, DCNR and others worked together to transport and raise a 25-foot high fire station tower from Union Township to its new home alongside Tamaqua's Lower Owl Creek Dam."When I heard that DCNR was opting to dispose of the tower, I asked to have it," said Mark Bower, Chief and Fire Warden, South Ward Fire Company and association member. "The use of cell phones and other newer communication technology has limited the need for these towers. That is why we need to preserve them as best we can."Bower added that the Weiser District (which incorporates 7 area counties) only mans 4 towers on a seasonal basis. The towers included are the Jim Thorpe Tower, Port Clinton Tower, Silver Creek Tower (located above Locust Lake) and Bear's Head Tower (located near Delano).Adding to Bower's desire to preserve the tower, association member and 53-year Forest Fire Warden Jim Shaffer, of Lehighton, said Nancy (his wife of 47 years), himself and other volunteers had spent hundreds of hours traveling back and forth over the past ten years sandblasting, re-painting and restoring the tower."This is a great thing for both firefighters and to others to enjoy," added Shaffer, who retired from the Bureau of Forestry in 2000.Shaffer also talked about the tower's long history. The 93-year old tower, which initially stood 85 high, was built as a lookout tower for the PA Bureau of Forestry. In the late 90s, the Bureau of Forestry dismantled the tower and transported it to their DCNR Weiser District office in Cressona for use as a training tool for firefighters and educational piece for visitors.In disrepair, the tower was eventually donated to the Weiser Forest Fire Wardens Association, who later moved it to a volunteer's home in Brandonville, Union Township. Located at the home of Frank Savitsky, association volunteers spent hundreds of hours turning the tower into something firefighters and visitors could learn from."It is nice to be able to contribute to the community," said Ronnie Bowman, President, South Ward Fire Company.Bower said that the will be maintained by the South Ward Fire Company and Weiser Forest Fire Wardens Association. He added that, over the next few months, volunteers will spend time painting and doing other restoration repairs to the tower.Volunteers stated they are looking into including area maps, weather reading instruments and other interactive measuring tools inside the tower. When complete, the tower will be open to the public for tours, programs and during larger events held at the reservoir.Bower stated his appreciation to the Tamaqua Borough, Owl Creek Reservoir Commission and Hope's Autobody for their support."Owl Creek will serve as a great new home for the tower and great attraction for families," said Nancy Shaffer.