VIRGINIA LOOKOUTS
PEAKS KNOB
Pulaski County
Virginia Department of Forestry
Virginia Department of Forestry
February 20, 1938: "A forestry lookout tower to be placed on the east point of Peak knob has arrived here and is being taken to the mountain, it was learned yesterday.
The tower is 35-feet tall and has a glass enclosure at the top of about seven feet square.
A lookout will be posted in the tower during dry weather so that fires may be quickly detected. The tower came from Chicago and is the only one planned for Pulaski county.
It is hoped to have it in operation by March 15. A telephone right-of-way has already been cleared and now ready for stringing wires which will connect the tower with various parts of the county.
The forestry patrol, something new in this section, is reported to have already brought results, having reduced the number of fires through prompt work." (Pulaski Southwest Times)
The tower is 35-feet tall and has a glass enclosure at the top of about seven feet square.
A lookout will be posted in the tower during dry weather so that fires may be quickly detected. The tower came from Chicago and is the only one planned for Pulaski county.
It is hoped to have it in operation by March 15. A telephone right-of-way has already been cleared and now ready for stringing wires which will connect the tower with various parts of the county.
The forestry patrol, something new in this section, is reported to have already brought results, having reduced the number of fires through prompt work." (Pulaski Southwest Times)
March 22, 1939: "An observer is to be stationed in the fire tower on Peak knob between 8 a.m. and sundown each day during the dry seasons, the warden concluded, in an effort to immediate spot conflagrations." (The Southwest Times)
November 8, 1944: "Three juveniles were arraigned in trial justice court on a charge of breaking into and damaging the fire lookout tower on Peak knob, recently.
Judge John W.B. Deeds sentenced one boy, 15 years of age, to two years in the reform school, and the other two were offered suspended sentences, provided they would attend school. One youth accepted, the other boy expressed a preference for the reformatory.
District Forester G.H. Hodge, of Salem, Chief Forest Warden Joe Graham, of Pulaski county, and Deputy Sheriff Andrew Smith, of Pulaski, investigated the damage.
They found property destroyed and much damage to the lookout tower.
Smith took finger prints of the culprits, and with the evidence collected by the help of the other men, the misdemeanor was traced to three boys. Some of them returned, however, to break windows before their case came into court.
Besides the sentence for the boys, the parents paid for damage sustained by the state and county.
The sheriff's office expressed the opinion that the sentence for other culprits, following such a path of destruction would not be light." (The Southwest Times)
March 3, 1946: "A mile long telephone line has been completed to the forest fire warden tower on Peak knob, Joe Tate, chief fire warden, announced yesterday.
The line was placed on poles which replaced trees used in the past, Corbert Boone, assistant warden, helping with the work.
The service is used by David Warden, forest warden on duty in the tower from March 1 until the middle of May." (The Southwest Times)
April 17, 1949: "David T. Warden, fire tower lookout atop Peak Knob, who was cut off from telephone communications for a period Friday, made this estimate of 500 to 600 acres burned. Warden King said aerial photographs will be made to get an accurate report." (Pulaski Southwest Times)
October 9, 1953: "County forest warden Jesse King today issued a strong notice that any unauthorized individual or group found trespassing on the property surrounding the lookout tower on Peaks Knob will be prosecuted.
Warden King served this notice after the tower, used to detect forest fires, was damaged considerably this week by some unknown person or persons.
This act of vandalism brought on the posting of the property. Warden King said those desiring to see the tower must first obtain permission. Groups must be accompanied by an adult leader.
The forest warden said that six windows in the tower were shot out this week. He also explained that a landing platform, dividing the flight of stairs to the tower, was torn away and a lock on a cistern broken off." (Pulaski Southwest Times)
March 13, 1964: "The Peaks Knob fire tower will be manned today for the first time this season, Chief Forest Warden Mack Baker reported.
Bobby Long will be on duty at the lookout tower from now until the last part of May, depending on weather conditions.
Baker reported that high winds have dried out forest lands producing conditions that would make fires burn at a rapid pace. He asked for full cooperation on the part of area residents in the prevention of fires, adding, 'it could be your forest land or home that would be in danger." (Pulaski Southwest Times)