MARYLAND LOOKOUTS
QUIRAUK
Washington County
June 27, 1921: "It is proposed to convert the high tower of Mount Quirauk Observatory on South Mountain into a forest fire lookout and to this end link up Pennsylvania and Maryland in a common interest. The tower stands on Maryland soil just a short distance over the Mason-Dixon Line and commands about an equal view of the mountains on both sides of the line and for many miles north and south.
The State Forestry Department is taking a lively interest in the proposition, Prof. E.A. Zeigler of the Mont Alto Forest Academy and Mr. Cope, deputy State forester of Maryland.
In order to carry the scheme to fruition it will be necessary to secure the co-operation of the two states, the Western Maryland Railway and the Bell Telephone Company, whose service would be indispensable to a proper operation of the tower. The tower was erected 25 years ago as a feature of the Pen-Mar resort. It is 2500 feet above the sea level." (The Daily Mail)
The State Forestry Department is taking a lively interest in the proposition, Prof. E.A. Zeigler of the Mont Alto Forest Academy and Mr. Cope, deputy State forester of Maryland.
In order to carry the scheme to fruition it will be necessary to secure the co-operation of the two states, the Western Maryland Railway and the Bell Telephone Company, whose service would be indispensable to a proper operation of the tower. The tower was erected 25 years ago as a feature of the Pen-Mar resort. It is 2500 feet above the sea level." (The Daily Mail)
June 28, 1921: "The Pennsylvania forest department, as well as the Maryland department, are putting more and more stress upon the danger and costliness of forest fires. Those who make a study of the financial losses entailed, to say nothing of the good timber wasted, declare that much of the waste could be avoided with proper safeguarding, and the plan to place a modern fire tower at Quirauk is but a part of an extensive effort along this line.
It is probable that the arrangements for the Quirauk tower will be completed shortly." (The Gettysburg Times)
August 23, 1921: "Another forest lookout tower has been established in the timber sections near Pen Mar. The new tower, the property of the Western Maryland Railroad Company, is at Pen Mar, and stands on the highest point of the Blue Ridge Mountains." (The Gettysburg Times)
October 13, 1921: "Local Forest Ranger Harry Thomas with a force of four men started work on the telephone line from Pen-Mar to Mt. Quirauk, where the new fire tower is being erected by the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Sometime ago Forester Thomas completed a survey of the property over which the line will run and secured permission from the farmers and other owners to cross their land from the wooded sections. It is understood that the Maryland foresters started work on their end of the line that will connect the Quirauk tower with their nearest station and in short time one of the best located and equipped fire watch towers in the country will be ready to help guard the forest lands of the two states.
The Bell Telephone Company will string the wires and connect up the tower. The action of the Maryland and Pennsylvania forestry departments in joining to work toward the same end marks the first act of this kind in the history of the country." (The Evening News)
October 14, 1921: "A telephone line is being erected from Pen-Mar to Mount Quirauk, where the new fire tower is being erected by Pennsylvania and Maryland." (The Evening News)
November 23, 1921: "The joint contract between the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, the Chesapeake and Potomac Company of Maryland and the forestry departments of the two States for equipment and use of Mt. Quirauk, near Pen-Mar Park, as an observation forest fire tower and for connecting of the tower with the two telephone systems mentioned has been signed and an order given to the Waynesboro exchange to proceed at once with the line construction.
It is expected that the new station will be connected up and supplied with a phone within two weeks, during the forest fire seasons, which cover the fall and spring, a watchman will be on the job day and night requiring two men who will divide the time. The expense of this service as well as other costs of maintenance will be borne equally by the two states.
Mount Quirauk is the highest peak of the Blue Ridge range north of North Carolina. It commands a sweep of the mountains from the Susquehanna to the Potomac and east as far as Baltimore. On a clear day smoke from the ships on the Chesapeake can be seen." (News- Frederick)
November 28, 1921: "The Pennsylvania and Maryland State Departments of Forestry will cooperate in the operation of a fire observation tower in Maryland just across the Pennsylvania line at Pen-Mar. The tower is owned by the Western Maryland railroad and consent to use it was given to the two departments. Linemen are now linking up the tower with forest fire towers of each department in the two states." (Altoona Tribune)
1921: "The splendid 80-foot tower on Quirauk, in Washington County, which was erected by the Western Maryland Railroad some years ago, affords an excellent view of a considerable portion of the South and Catoctin Mountain country in Maryland, and a still greater portion of the forested country to the north, in Pennsylvania. Under a co-operative agreement between the tw states, and the Western Maryland Railroad, this tower is to be used as a permanent Lookout Station during the fire season. The telephone line to the tower from Pen Mar is now completed, and it is planned to put the tower in active service in the spring of 1922." (State Board of Forestry Report for 1920 and 1921)
January 5, 1922: "The Mount Quirauk fire observatory tower near Pen-Mar Park is finished, ready for the installation of the telephone, operator's table and other furnishings. The glass enclosed lookout is 10 feet square at the top of the tower which is 85 feet high. A cabin for the use of the watchman has been erected at the foot of the tower." (Catoctin Clarion)
March 7, 1922: "The Western Maryland Railroad had an 80-foot tower erected at Quirauk in Washington county which affords an excellent view of Catoctin and South mountains and a still greater view of the forested country to the north in Pennsylvania. Under the co-operative agreement between the two states and the Western Maryland railway the tower is to be used as a permanent lookout station. A telephone line to the tower from Pen Mar is now completed and the tower will be put in active service this spring." (Frederick News-Post)
November 20, 1927: "The Western Maryland Railroad today assigned Detective Lieut. E. G. Chapman to the case of Clay Willard, Pennsylvania State forester, who was shot at the Quirauk fire tower last week. Willard is in a critical condition at the Waynesboro Hospital from bullet wounds in the stomach. He said he was attacked with his own gun while repairing a tire, the assailant fleeing. The fire tower is on railroad property." (Evening Star)