SHICKSHINNY
Pennsylvania - Luzerne County - Wyoming State Forest
June 23, 1921: "One of the forest fire observation towers to be erected this summer by the Pennsylvania Department of Forestry will probably be located on the top of Knob Mountain, about miles west of Shickshinny. District Forester Snyder, of Dushore, has recommended that one of the towers be erected at that point so that an extensive view of the timberlands in that region may be had." (Miltonian)
September 24, 1921: "Several hundred people scaled Knob Mountain at Shickshinny this week to inspect the new fire lookout erected by the state forestry department and well repaid for their efforts, for the scenic beauty from the tower is beyond description. From twenty to forty miles---north, east, south and west a magnificent view is obtained. Pleasant Hill, Town Line, Mullenburg, New Columbus, Town Hill, Ashley, Georgetown and the hill section of Wilkesbarre are plainly discernible on a clear day. The tower contains eighty-four steps with nine rest platforms." (Pillston Gazette)
November 21, 1921: "At the Shickshinny tower, in the Wyoming state forest, 636 persons persons indicated their interest in the forest fire prevention." (New Castle Herald)
March 25, 1922: "Due to the early spring and dry season and the apparent danger of forest fires, the towerman has been placed on duty at the Shickshinny lookout tower. So far this season three fires have been reported. Walter Kline has been appointed as towerman, while Phillip Garrison is on the job as fire inspector, with territory from Nanticoke to Sunbury." (The Wilkes-Barre Record)
September 23, 1922: "Enterprising Shickshinny citizens will meet on Monday, October 9 with rakes, picks, axes, hoes and shovels to make an automobile road up the mountain to the fire tower, a distance of half a mile. This fire tower gives a commanding view of a beautiful section." (The Wilkes-Barre Record)
October 10, 1923: "Bruce Henrie has taken up his duties as watchman at the fire tower at Shickshinny." (Harrisburg Telegraph)
March 19, 1930: "Mrs. Bruce Henry of Berwick, wife of the State fire department inspector, was yesterday appointed a watcher in the fire tower at Shickshinny. She is believed to be the first woman to hold such a job in the State. Mrs. Henry will assume her new duties within a couple of days." (The Times Leader)
June 11, 1930: "Mrs. Bruce Henrie, watchman in the Shickshinny fire tower for the department of forests and waters, yesterday killed a three-foot rattlesnake which had ten rattles.
Mrs. Henrie encountered the rattler while she was cutting wood near the foot of the tower and quickly killed it." (The Morning Press)
August 19, 1930: "Mrs. Bruce Henrie, guard at the Shickshinny fire tower, after a twenty-four hour vacation that she received as a result of the rain, has been directed to be back at the tower." (The Plain Speaker)
November 4, 1934: "The ERA (Emergency Relief Association) has set aside the sum of $8,437 for the building of an improved road to Shickshinny Fire Tower. Work has been started in cutting brush and getting lines set. The survey for the road was made early in the summer.
Thirty-two from relief roll will be employed in the construction of the road. Frank Robbins, watchman at the tower, will be in charge of the work.
The road begins at Search street but does not follow the lines of the old road. Sharp curves are to be removed and an easier grade made.
The road will be widened, guttered, graded and a stone base laid.
Whether the work can be completed this fall will depend on the weather.
With an improved highway to the Fire Tower next summer will see hundreds of motorists driving to the mountain top. There is no point in this section of Pennsylvania where the view of the landscape surpasses the one from the Shickshinny Fire Tower." (Wilkes Barre Sunday Independent)
October 5, 1935: "Shickshinny fire tower was opened for the winter season. Frank Robbins will be the lookout. The tower was closed during the summer when danger of forest fires is not great." (The Evening News)
September 20, 1936: "Work is progressing on the widening of the steep road leading to the Shickshinny fire tower as a WPA project. The first project was secured last summer when the road was graded and improved. A second federal appropriation was recently made to make the road even wider." (Wilkes Barre Sunday Independent)
October 16, 1947: "The Shickshinny fire tower in charge of Oscar Featherman of Shickshinny reported a large fire on Jackson Hill, Red Rock Mountain, yesterday afternoon at 1:25 which took four hours and three crews totaling 25 men to extinguish. Clyde Featherman of Shickshinny, Hope Larich of Red Rock and Arley Harvey of Bethel Hill had charge. About 10 acres were burned over." (Times Leader, The Evening News)
April 13, 1955: "Shickshinny Fire Tower, located on mountain outside of Shickshinny, operator, John Falkowski. This tower covers upper Luzerne County north of the Susquehanna River and overlaps with Harvey's Tower. It also looks into Columbia County on the west." (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News)
Removed