WEST VIRGINIA LOOKOUTS
KEENEY'S KNOB
Summers County
West Virginia Division of Forestry
West Virginia Division of Forestry
August 19, 1936: "A fire tower, 75 feet high is under construction on Keeney's Knob, near Alderson. The work on this tower is being done under the supervision of State Forester O. O. Nutter by members of the CCC camp at Union. Its completion at an early date is expected.
The tower will have an attendant who will be on the watch for fires in this section, and it will be equipped with telephone connections so that it may make calls to areas affected by fires. Through this method it is believed the damage wrought annually by forest fires may be materially decreased. O. H. Mann has been named as the attendant at the fire tower." (The Independent-Herald)
The tower will have an attendant who will be on the watch for fires in this section, and it will be equipped with telephone connections so that it may make calls to areas affected by fires. Through this method it is believed the damage wrought annually by forest fires may be materially decreased. O. H. Mann has been named as the attendant at the fire tower." (The Independent-Herald)
January 17, 1937: "The steel for the framework is on the ground where each tower will be erected. Workmen are preparing to pour concrete for the foundations now.
A tower will be erected on Keeney's Knob, in Greenbrier county, about eight miles northwest of Alderson." (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
May 19, 1937: "Hurried action by Francis Pollock, deputy game protector, in the direction of improvement of a six-mile stretch of county road Monday saved from rejection by the state conservation commission a project calling for construction of a lookout fire tower on Keeney's Knob, highest point of the county, 25 miles from here (Hinton).
Offered to the county last week without Pollock's knowledge, the project was nearly lost when officials at CCC camp White Sulphur, decided that transportation of men and materials to the site was impossible due to the condition of the road from Griffiths Creek to Tempa. Upon the request of the game protector, the officers agreed to withhold a final decision until efforts were made to obtain improvement of the road. A conference with Wade H. Gwinn, acting county road supervisor, brought assurance Monday that the repairs would be made, and Pollock indicated Tuesday that the tower project would be undertaken.
Plans of the conservation commission include not only erection of the steel fire tower and stationing a ranger there during the fire season, but building of open stone fireplaces and benches and tables in the vicinity to make a public woodland park.
Work on the road is to begin late this week, and construction at the knob will follow immediately after the road is made passable. CCC labor from the White Sulphur camp will be used." (Beckley Post-Herald)
June 13, 1937: "Work has been started by CCC workers on the 79-foot steel fire tower which, according to plans of the state conservation commission, is to be the center of a 13-acre public park on Keeney's Knob, highest point in southern West Virginia.
Work was begun recently with the completion of improvements on a 6-mile stretch of secondary road from Griffiths creek to Tempa.
From Tempa, the top of the knob is five and one-fourth miles, passable for automobiles. Several routes may be taken to the knob, giving entrance from different directions. The Griffiths Creek 0 Clayton - Tempa route, however, has been recommended for sightseers seeking the striking view of the surrounding section from the top of the knob, 3,945 feet above sea level." (The Charleston Daily Mail)
September 27, 1937: "Employees of the state conservation committee began work on erection of an 88-foot steel fire tower on top of Keeney's Knob." (Charleston Daily Mail)
September 28, 1937: "Erection of an 88-foot steel fire tower has begun at Keeney's Knob, 20 miles from here, by four employees of the state conservation commission.
O.H. Mann, of Keeney's Knob, has been appointed tower keeper, to maintain a constant lookout for fires. A cabin for the keeper will top the tower.
The knob is an elevation of 3,945 feet, and from it a large portion of the forests of Monroe, Greenbrier and Summers counties can be viewed." (Charleston Daily Mail)
October 16, 1937: "Deputy Game Protector Francis Pollock announced here Friday that construction of the 85-foot fire lookout tower on Keeney's Knob had been completed and that a ranger would probably be stationed there soon.
Work on the tower began last August by CCC labor at the direction of the state conservation commission, was completed last week, the deputy said. Necessary range instruments have yet to be installed.
A recreation park surrounding the tower on the peak of the knob is included in the commission's plans for the project." (Beckley Post-Herald)
November 14, 1937: "Erection of an 88-foot forest fire tower on Keeney's Knob will be completed before the opening of the fall forest fire danger period. Keeney's Knob, 3,945 feet above sea level, is one of the highest points in the southern part of the state.
The CCC constructed a road to the tower." (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)