The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-06-24
HOminy Hills lower.

/ Possib ~ one of the most conspicuor
and interesting obiects in Monmouth
county and the least visited Is the watch
tower located on the highest peak o.
Hominy Hills near Farmingdale. This
tower is IS high built of metal, and is
enclosed on all sideswith glass, atfording
a clear vision for miles around. 1t can
be seen from practically all the high
ways near Farmingdale and can be
reached from two ways, tho neither Is
easy to trave due to the sand.
| The best way to the tower is from the
Farmingdale-Colt Neck road and the
other is from the Freehold-Colts Neck
road. On the first road named is q
sign designating that certain side
road is Tower avenue and from this
channel automobiles may be driven
within short distance OF the tower.
| The ad. about mile out of Freehold,
leading off the latter highway, is sandy
and generally roush all the way and a
car cannot be driven very clio e to the
tower, especially in dry weather. on
account of the steep ascents and wood
roads.
Everett Tower with most appro-
pirate name Of Colts Neck, is the
Waterman IN the tower and welcomes
all visitors to the lonely station when
he is on duty which is on all hot and
| dry days between the hours of
O'Clock in the morning and o'clock
in the evening. As the visitors climb
the dozen fights of well guarded
stairs and reach the top Mr.. Tower
opens a trap door and let's them in
his lofty perch. He is very courteous
and willingly answers any question
asked in regard to the system as well
as giving his visitors free access to
his powerful glasses. so that they
may enjoy the grandeur Of the sur
rounding panorama Of Jersey forests.
With his glasses one easily sees
the Lakehurst hangar to the south
and the Atlantic ocean on the east on
clear days. The hangar, as a matter
of fact, is visible without the glasses.
! AS each visitor come to the tower he
/ is asked to sign his name in book,
and tho there are not so many names
inscribed. a glance will show that
people have come from all sections Of
the state to the tower.
| As MIR. Tower sits at his lonely
watch day after day he keeps on the
alert for signs Of smoke. When once
he discovers the least sign he trains
his sighting rule on the rising column
and then reverts to his map to ascer-
tain the exact location. When once be
learns that it is ia q certain seGytsgnr
he telephones the lire war al
charge Of that section, for look
lout stations are equipped Hfth tele-
phones and soon a squadron Of fire
lighters are oR- the Job
In the tower is round table on the
top of which is q map covered with
thick glass In the confer of the map
is a pivot and on the pivot is a sight
ing rule. Mr.. Tower lines the rule
with the smoke and then looks at an
arrow in front of the rule which turns
with the sights. The map is divided
into sectors 1901 and each Sec
tor is numbered so that when the fire
is located the arrow points.
A large foreign population, gunners
and fishermen are also accountable for
many fires due to ther ignorance or neg
lect Of fire prevention.
AS a means of protection against
forest fires the state department has
state and employs q watchman for
each location during the season when
forest fire dangers are greatest. This
season is during the months OF
March, April, May, June, October and
November. During the rest of the
summer the green foliage provides
the fresh litter on the damp ground
with enough moisture to prevent
many fires, and winter is damp or
snowy.