VIRGINIA LOOKOUTS
SOUNDING KNOB
Highland County
Virginia Department of Forestry
Virginia Department of Forestry
August 11, 1933: "A move is on foot to erect an observation tower on sounding Knob, along with a State lookout. Our people are enthusiastic over the thought of the grand view it will give. It will afford a birdseye view of many attractive scenes for which Highland is famous. If sufficient funds can be raised the state will put in a good road to the knob." (Highland Recorder)
May 18, 1934: "Mr. G. Henry Hodge, District Forester, was in Monterey Monday arranging for a camp just east of Monterey, preparatory to building a road from the pike along on top of Jack Mountain out to Sounding Knob. They expect to put from 40 to 50 CCC men to work on the project within the next week. Part of the crew are erecting camp now. Mr. Hodge told us instead of putting a forty-seven foot tower as first planed, he has arranged with the Federal authorities without any additional cost to the county for an eighty foot one of all steel. From this lookout tower the whole country can be seen, and fires can be observed right at the beginning, thus much labor and timber can be saved by early discovery of fires. AS fire warden will occupy the tower during the hazardous seasons of the year. A small house will be erected near the tower for the warden.
The drive way leading along the top of the mountain will be a scenic one as it will enable one to look into the Monterey and Bull Pasture valleys. The grade will be easy, as there are no cuts or fills, the top being very even after one ascends a short distance from the pike.
Fine springs near the Knob, and it would make an ideal picnic or recreation grounds for sight-seers. No doubt, some time in the future when the round about can be cleaned and beautified it will attract thousands of people there. The altitude of the Knob is 4,400 feet, and only a few trees, not enough to obstruct the view on the immediate summit. When this road is completed, watch the Knob grow in attraction." (Highland Recorder)
The drive way leading along the top of the mountain will be a scenic one as it will enable one to look into the Monterey and Bull Pasture valleys. The grade will be easy, as there are no cuts or fills, the top being very even after one ascends a short distance from the pike.
Fine springs near the Knob, and it would make an ideal picnic or recreation grounds for sight-seers. No doubt, some time in the future when the round about can be cleaned and beautified it will attract thousands of people there. The altitude of the Knob is 4,400 feet, and only a few trees, not enough to obstruct the view on the immediate summit. When this road is completed, watch the Knob grow in attraction." (Highland Recorder)
March 1, 1935: "The Emergency Conservation Work Camp remains at McClung, Bath County and has been engaged in the construction of improvement work on privately-owned lands through Highland County. The work from this camp consists of the construction of a 80 foot lookout tower on Sounding Knob, which will be used in reporting fires that occur in the county, including construction of truck trails, foot trails, telephone lines, reduction of fire hazards and assisting in suppression forest fires." (Highland Recorder)
March 15, 1935: "On last Wednesday a party of State and United States Engineers and Forest Inspectors were registered at Hotel Monterey. In the party also were G.H. Hodge, District Forester of Allegheny District and T.M. Gathright, Jr. Supt. Bath Camp P-57. On Thursday morning, March 7th they drove over the scenic drive from Monterey along the summit of Jack Mountain on a newly constructed CCC road to the 80-foot lookout tower on Sounding Knob. The party of U.S. and State Forest Service men seemed very much pleased with the CCC construction work done in this district and before breaking up the party at 12:00 noon, it was recommended that a higher standard of work be done on road construction such as better drainage and shaling on slippery places to allow the public to travel these roads without difficulty." (Highland Recorder)
April 5, 1940: "East and Taylor, of Covington with road equipment and a force of men, are this week doing repair work on the CCC road, leading from Route 250 at the top of the mountain east of Monterey, to the fire tower on the Sounding Knob. They are also working on the road that leads from the road south of McDowell, via Davis Run, and to the fire tower on the 'knob.' " (Highland Recorder)
March 28, 1941: "Work is being done on the national forestry telephone line leading to Sounding Knob lookout tower. The lines comes off the mountain near the Ralston place on Crab Run, Route 250, thence to Monterey and McDowell switchboard." (Highland Recorder)
March 19, 1948: "Lets go all out for the safety and protection of our Forests in Highland County. If a fire should start please report it immediately to the nearest fire warden. Our Lookout Watchman, Mr Jesse Wiseman moved to the Sounding Tower on March 11, 1948, Chief Forest Warden Corbett states." (Highland Recorder)
October 27, 1950: "Chief County Warden, Fred Corbett urges all the county residents to be extremely careful while smoking in the dry woods this fall.
Mr. Corbett also announced that Jesse Wiseman, Lookout Watchman, is on duty on Sounding Knob Lookout Tower." (Monterey Highland Recorder)
July 24, 2004: "the 80-foot tall lookout tower on Sounding Knob was dismantled." (Recorder)
2017: The tower was refurbished and re-erected by a private party.