SHORELINES

Smith Mountain Rededicated to the fire tower they love F rom majestic mountains in the the fire tower is rooted in Lake Martin history. north to sugary white beaches on The tower was built after an agreement the Gulf Coast, natural beauty between Alabama Power, the Tallapoosa abounds in Alabama. Yet, it's County Forest Conservation Association hard to find a view as breathtaking as that and the Alabama Forestry Commission. The 90-foot fire tower was the first built by from the Smith Mountain Fire Tower at Lake Martin. It may be even harder to find the conservation association. A dedication a community as dedicated to a landmark's ceremony on April 10, 1939, was followed by a fish fry hosted by Dadeville Kiwanis Club. natural beauty and restoration. In 1941, the forestry commission developed On a crisp autumn afternoon, hundreds of people have gathered at the peak of a ranger station at the fire tower's base, and Smith Mountain in Lake Martin's Sandy for the next four decades the tower served Creek area. Fish fries as neighbors and as a sentinel against forest fires. In 1980, the friends reminisce, sharing stories of their tower was decommissioned and not used or maintained for 30 years until local groups experiences at the fire tower. It's a day of rededication, celebrating the came together to restore the tower. The Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail restoration of a historic landmark that will stand for years to come. But what force pulls Association (CRATA), created in 2004, so many to the mountaintop, the highest has played a key role in restoring the Smith Mountain Fire Tower. The nonprofit elevation on the lake? Whether the sweeping views, the party, the group has built foot-path-only trails along community or, more likely, a combination of Lake Martin. The first set of trails, 11 miles north of all three, there is no denying that the Smith Mountain Fire Tower plays an integral part in Martin Dam, drew an overwhelmingly the past, present and future of Lake Martin. positive response, and the group looked for Standing atop Smith Mountain since 1939, ways to expand to other parts of the lake. "We saw where Smith Mountain offered a lot of opportunity for hiking trails and the fire tower was a big draw to the area," says Jimmy K. Lanier, founder of CRATA. In November 2010, Alabama Power deeded about 10 acres atop Smith Mountain to CRATA. Under the conditions that the land have no commercial enterprises and would have to be open to the public, CRATA received permission to restore the fire tower and build hiking trails. For the next 18 months, CRATA and a multitude of community groups and volunteers cleared hiking trails and worked to restore the fire tower. "It was amazing to see how many people jumped in to help," Lanier says. Robert Hodnette, a retired engineer from Huntsville, chipped in by donating an engineering plan. A fire in 2007 destroyed the first three landings of the fire tower. Repairs to all of the steps and landings, along with metal work and reinforcements, were needed to restore the tower. Members of the trail association, the Facing: The majestic view of Lake Martin from atop Smith Mountain. 17

• Cover