BLUE KNOB
Pennsylvania - Bedford County - Blue Knob State Park
August 1921: "Maj. R.Y. Stuart, Deputy Commissioner of Forestry, has announced that 25 sites have been definitely fixed for forest fore observation towers that will be erected by the Department of Forestry this summer. Orders for 50 towers have been placed with the manufacturers. One of the first 18 towers will be put up at Blue Knob, Bedford county." (Forest Leaves, Vol. 18)
October 28, 1921: "Five fires in one batch were reported near the fire tower on Blue Knob, Bedford county, and there were evidences that all had been caused by incendiaries. Fire fighters succeeded in subduing the flames before much damage resulted." (The Kane Republican)
June 23, 1922: "During the latter part of the summer of 1921, the Pennsylvania Department of Forestry erected fifty sixty foot steel towers. Their primary purpose is the detection of forest fires. How well they have fulfilled their purpose can be determined by the number of fires reported.
Of all these fifty towers, one is preeminent in several respects. Blue Knob tower on Blue Knob, two and one-half miles north-east of Pavia, Bedford County, and fourteen miles south of Altoona, Blair County, stands on the highest point in the state, an elevation of thirty-one hundred and sixty-five feet above sea level." (The Bedford Gazette)
October 9, 1922: "The blaze started only about five miles from the fire tower on the top of Blue Knob, but because of an unusual contour of the mountains it could not be seen for some time by the towerman. Because of this the fire had an unusually good start before crews of men could be put on the scene to combat it." (Altoona Tribune)
October 17, 1922: "A number of people from this place motored to Blue Knob on Sunday afternoon and visited the sixty foot steel fire tower erected on the very pinnacle of the mountains between Blue Knob and Pavia. It is stated that from this tower the most magnificent view of Pennsylvania's mountains is to be had, and those visiting the place Sunday heartily agree. Mountains in the several surrounding counties of this state are readily seen, while on a perfectly clear day mountains in Maryland and West Virginia can be seen. Those who appreciate mountain scenery will not regret making a trip to this tower, which is open daily until Dec. 1, to the public." (The Altoona Mirror)
October 30, 1923: "District Forester W.L. Byers, of McConnellsburg, reports that recently a visitor came to the Blue Knob forest fire tower and forgot to register. A large bear traveled from the Bob's Creek game preserve to the Blue Knob tower, a distance of about five miles, and ascended to the fifth platform of the fire tower. His tracks were followed to the fifth platform, where he turned and descended to terra firma again. Byers reports that the bear left no record of what he thought of the view from the tower, nor did he place his name in the register book." (Daily News)
August 4, 1924: "Some years ago the State Forestry Department - now the Department of Forests and Waters - erected a fine fire tower on the top of Blue Knob, in Bedford county just across the line of Blair county. The tower was erected so that employes of the department could scan a great scope of country, detect forest fires when they started and get out the fire fighters to extinguish these fires. The addition of the tower gave a greater protection to the woodland areas within its view, land owned by the state and individuals as well. Every citizen was a partner in the tower for the interests of every taxpayer were conserved through the agency of the tower by reason of the fact that forest lands were guarded. Every citizen was a joint owner in that tower; all citizens benefited alike in forest conservation.
But - a recent investigation has shown that the doors on both the cabin and the tower of the Blue Ridge forest fire observation tower in the Buchanan Forest District were torn from the hinges. The shutters over the cabin windows were damaged and most of the window panes were broken. The telephone was torn and considerable other damage was done about the tower.
It is hoped that the culprit or culprits can be found. Special efforts ought to be made to acquaint those responsible for these despicable acts with prison bars." (Altoona Tribune)
August 22, 1925: "Last Tuesday Mr. Jerry Diehl of Cassandra motored to the home of his brother D.B. Diehl for his father George Diehl, of Juniata, who had been visiting at the D.B. Diehl home for several days. Together they motored to the 60 feet fire tower on Blue Knob. The father, who is past 80 years old, mounted the steps to the top with but little exertion." (Altoona Mirror)
December 10, 1925: "The fire tower erected on Blue Knob in the Schweitz, ten miles west of Newry, has suffered considerable damage, the result of recent storms, reports from the mountain village state. Two bolts in the tower cabin were sheared off, allowing the cabin to spread and the window to open.
The glass in the window of the observation room was broken and the ceiling in the tower cabin fell down. The storm threw several trees across the telephone line running into the tower and blew down the tower sign." (Altoona Mirror)
The glass in the window of the observation room was broken and the ceiling in the tower cabin fell down. The storm threw several trees across the telephone line running into the tower and blew down the tower sign." (Altoona Mirror)
October 8, 1928: "As part of a campaign to discourage visitors from writing or carving their names on property of the state bureau of forestry, eleven persons have been fined $2.50 by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, according to an announcement made by W.L. Byers of McConnellsburg, district forester. (List of names and addresses) paid fines for disfiguring a fire tower on Blue Knob.
Because of the damage done to the Blue Knob tower, it has been decided that the lower two flights of steps will be removed from the tower when the towerman is not on duty. Mr. Bowers states that the department dose not wish to deprive visitors of the benefit of the view, but that the loss in broken glass and locks and repairing woodwork has made the step necessary." (Altoona Mirror)
Because of the damage done to the Blue Knob tower, it has been decided that the lower two flights of steps will be removed from the tower when the towerman is not on duty. Mr. Bowers states that the department dose not wish to deprive visitors of the benefit of the view, but that the loss in broken glass and locks and repairing woodwork has made the step necessary." (Altoona Mirror)
March 11, 1932: "An adventurous black bear that climbed the 60-foot steel fire tower on Blue Knob left a record of his visit in the form of numerous claw scratches on the wooden stairs and the door to the glass-enclosed platform at the top of the tower." (Charleston Gazette - W. Virginia)
Removed
DESIGNATION - BLUE KNOB LOOKOUT TOWER 1941
PID - KX2265
STATE/COUNTY- PA/BEDFORD
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - BLUE KNOB (1981)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1941 (GWL)
THE STATION IS THE BLUE KNOB LOOKOUT TOWER WHICH IS LOCATED ABOUT 3
MILES NE OF PAVIA, ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF A PROMINENT
TIMBERED MOUNTAIN KNOWN LOCALLY AS BLUE KNOB, IN THE BLUE KNOB
NATIONAL PARK AREA. IT IS A FOUR-LEGGED STEEL STRUCTURE ABOUT 75
FEET HIGH WITH A GLASS-ENCLOSED CAB ON TOP. THERE IS AN AIRWAY
BEACON OF THE STANDARD REVOLVING TYPE BELONGING TO THE CIVIL
AERONAUTICS BUREAU ON THE ROOF OF THE CAB. THERE ARE ALSO TWO FIXED
LIGHTS WHICH SHOW ALONG THE AIR COURSE. THESE LIGHTS WERE NOT YET
IN OPERATION WHEN THE STATION WAS VISITED. THE CENTER OF THE TOP WAS
THE POINT OBSERVED UPON. A TRAVERSE CONNECTION WAS MADE FROM
STATION BLUE KNOB.