Chenocetah Fire Tower
Why it's listed
Rising 54 feet from the summit of Chenocetah Mountain near Cornelia, Georgia, this granite fire tower is topped by a wooden observation room with a slate hipped roof. A metal spiral stair leads up inside, and details include dentil molding and a segmental-arched entrance. Built in 1937-1938, it was one of three fire towers created under the Northeast Georgia Upland Game Conservation Project, a Depression-era effort to restore worn-out farmland through reforestation and public recreation. Tenant families were relocated to better land, and the project employed hundreds of local men. The tower was the most elaborate of the three and is regarded as a fine example of rustic 1930s public works design, built by local workers using local stone. Fire watchers used it seasonally until 1971, and a radio antenna was added around 1970. A memorial plaque honors Forest Service men who died in World War II. The grounds are now a passive park.
Significance in brief: The tower was built under a 1930s federal conservation and resettlement project, the Northeast Georgia Upland Game Conservation Project. It is described as an intact example of rustic public works architecture built by local people using local materials. It was the most elaborate of the project's three fire towers and is tied to New Deal rural relief efforts.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84001110, listed June 11, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Chenocetah Mountain, Cornelia |
|---|---|
| County | Habersham County |
| Listed | June 11, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001110 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1937-1938 |
| Architect / builder | Farm Security Administration (formerly the Resettlement Administration) |
| Architectural style | 1930s rustic public works (WPA-era) architecture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Conservation, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used for seasonal fire observation until 1971, when the Forest Service switched to aircraft; the surrounding area is now used as a passive park. Condition is listed as good and unaltered. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.50223, -83.50671 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84001110.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15378618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.