WEST VIRGINIA

MISC. NOTES - WEST VIRGINIA

BACKBONE MOUNTAIN (OLSON)

Tucker County - Monongahela National Forest

BALD KNOB

Pocahontas County - West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

BARTON KNOB

Randolph County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

BEARDEN KNOB

Tucker County - Monongahela National Forest

BEAVER LICK MOUNTAIN (WHITE ROCK)

Pocahontas County - National Forest

BEE MOUNTAIN

Kanawha County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

BELL KNOB

Grant County - Monongahela National Forest

BERWIND

McDowell County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

BICKLE KNOB

Randolph County - Monongahela National Forest

BIG MOUNTAIN

Webster County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

BIG RIDGE

Hardy County - West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

BLACK MOUNTAIN

Pocahontas County - State

BLAIR MOUNTAIN

Logan County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

BRIERY KNOB

Pocahontas County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

BRUSHY MOUNTAIN

Greenbrier/Monroe Counties - West Virginia Division of Forestry

BUCK KNOB

Lincoln County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

BUFFALO MOUNTAIN

Mingo County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

BURNING ROCK

Wyoming County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

CABELL

Cabell County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

CABIN HILL

Logan County - West Virginia Conservation Commission

CADDELL MOUNTAIN

Preston County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

CANAAN MOUNTAIN

Tucker County - Monongahela National Forest

1927 - National Archives (OPA)

1933 - National Archives (OPA)

1937 - National Archives (OPA)

1943: The lookout was no longer needed for fire detection purposes. The duties were transferred to the new lookout at Beardon Knob.

CARLIN HILL

Wetzel County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

CHEAT VIEW

Monongalia County - State

CHERTLAND MOUNTAIN

Mineral County

October 10, 1926: "In Mineral county, the Chertland Mountain observer is connected with the Chertland Orchard Company's telephone station which is served from the Cumberland, Maryland central office." (Charleston Gazette)

COALWOOD

McDowell County - Private

COTTLE KNOB

Nicholas County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

Removed

DOLLY SODS (PLAINS)

Grant/Tucker Counties - Monongahela National Forest

ELK KNOB

Boone County - West Virginia Conservation Commission

ELK HORN ROCK

Grant/Hardy County - West Virginia Div. of Forestry

FATEWOOD (Same as Gatewood ???)

Monongahela National Forest

1933 - National Archives (OPA)

GARTIN KNOB

Lincoln County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

GATEWOOD

Randolph County - Monongahela National Forest

GAUDINEER KNOB

Pocahontas County - Monongahela National Forest

GAULEY MOUNTAIN

Fayette County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

October 10, 1926: "The Gauley Mountain tower has telephone connection with the Gauley Mountain Coal Company at Ansted where messages can be relayed to the central office at Fayetteville." (Charleston Gazette)

August 8, 1928: "J.M. Hammond, of Ansted, has been appointed the new section ranger with headquarters at the Gauley mountain fire tower. The fire tower has been completely renovated, with new roof, new windows, new floor in observation room and a coat of paint." (Charleston Daily Mail)

October 28, 2009: The Blaw-Knox tower was installed at its new location in the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Its purpose is more for observing than observing from.

GRASSY KNOB

Greenbrier County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

HALF MOON MOUNTAIN

Hardy County - Shenandoah National Forest

HANGING ROCK (PETERS MOUNTAIN)

Monroe County - Jefferson National Forest

HIGH POINT (KNOB)

Hampshire/Frederick (Va.) Counties - George Washington National Forest

Situated on the state line between West Virginia and Virginia.

1946 - National Archives (OPA)

HOLLY RIVER STATE PARK

Webster County - West Virginia Conservation Commission

HOPKINS MOUNTAIN

Greenbrier County - Monongahela National Forest

HUFF'S KNOB

Raleigh County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

IVY KNOB

Raleigh/Wyoming Counties - West Virginia Division of Forestry

JACKSON KNOB

Fayette County

October 10, 1926: "The Jackson Knob tower connects with the mine telephone system at Whitaker which is served from the East Bank central office." (Telephone service) (Charleston Gazette)

JOB KNOB

Greenbrier County - State

c.1915 - 4th Biennial Report of the FG&F Warden

1913-14: "Honorable H.E. Williams donated all of the lumber and delivered same on the ground for the Job Knob Station." (Biennial Report - Forest, Game & Fish Warden - West Virginia - 1913-14)

1916: "This station is located in Williamsburg District, Greenbrier County, nineteen miles from Richwood, and is under the supervision of David Frame. The station may be reached by carriage or on horseback from Richwood. The elevation is 4,388 feet and commands a view of approximately 800 square miles. The watchman, James H. McMillion, lives nine miles from the station, and stays at the station each night. He receives his mail at Trout, West Virginia, once a week, and telegrams can be delivered to the station in twenty minutes from Renick. West Virginia." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)

JOHNSON KNOB

Kanawha County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

April 26, 1929: The Southern West Virginia Fire Protective association appropriated $1,500 for the construction of a 73-foot steel forest observation tower at Johnson Knob, Kanawha county. (Charleston Daily Mail)

Removed

KEENEY'S KNOB

Summers County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

LAMBERT KNOB

Wyoming County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

LAUREL HILL

Barbour/Randolph Counties - West Virginia Division of Forestry

LICK KNOB

Fayette/Raleigh County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

1916: "This station is located in Clear Fork District, Raleigh County, almost on the boundary line between that county and Fayette, three miles from Kingston, and is the supervision of J.E. Woodson. The station may be reached on foot from Kingston. The elevation is 3,150 feet and commands an excellent view of the territory in that section. This station was contracted for in the spring of 1916, and was only completed this summer. However, Luther Proffit of Kingston was placed on duty as temporary watchman and patrolman in various directions several times each day. He receives his mail at Kingston, in care of the Solvay Collieries Company, who will phone the message to him within a few minutes.
One and one-half miles of telephone line have been built connecting with the private line of the Solvay Collieries Company at one of their mines. They agreed to relay messages to the local lines until such time as arrangements can be made to connect direct with these lines." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)

June 1921: "On May 10, 1921. the Lookout Station on Lick Knob, was completed and it is now in operation. This work has been accomplished largely through the active and earnest cooperation of public spirited citizens of the State with the forest officers, in their efforts to further forest protection. E.N. Wriston is in charge of the Lookout Station under direction of C.W. Harding, Forest Fire Warden." (American Forestry)

April 9, 1926: "A reward of $500 has been offered by the state game and fish commission for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who destroyed the Lick Knob forest fire tower at Kingston, Fayette county. This action was taken by the commission at its meeting last week but was not announced until today.
During the winter when the forest fire hazard is slight the Lick Knob tower is not occupied. That it had been chopped down was not learned until recently when E.N. Wristen, district fire warden, visited the scene and found a mass of wreckage marking the site of the old tower. Since then an investigation has been under way but without result.
Construction of a 60-foot steel tower may be authorized by the commission at its next meeting, it was said today at the office of the commission." (Charleston Daily Mail)

October 10, 1926: "The Lick Knob tower near Kingston, also in Fayette County is connected with the Oak Hill central office." (Telephone service) (Charleston Gazette)

November 28, 1943: "An incident beautiful in what it symbolized occurred Thanksgiving day at the Lick Knob forest fire lookout tower near Kingston.
     That afternoon about 3 o'clock an airplane soared over the tower, which extends upward to 3,150 feet above the sea, and the observer there, Ira Sowder, saw a package come tumbling toward the tower. Of course, since this is the heart of America, it wasn't a bomb he saw falling. It was a package of roofing, intended to shelter human heads instead of destroy them.
     Herbert L. Sessler, manager of Scott Field, and Claud Sowder, of Glen Rogers, son of the observer, were aboard the plane, and they took the roofing by air because getting it in by trail from Kingston or Pax would have been a great ordeal.
     Observer Sowder, impressed by the incident, set down some of his thoughts about it, and we are indebted to him for the privilege of reproducing:
     'Thanksgiving day. About 20 visitors. Herb Sessler delivered me a roll of roofing by plane. My son, Claud Sowder, rode with him and 'laid the egg'. It looked like a bomb dropped out. I was glad to get it from above. It would have been hard to have carried it in from Kingston or Pax. We are going to get him to bring us some paint right away. We really thank Mr. Sessler for this cooperation. I wanted Mr. Trump and Mr. Wriston to take the trip with the freight, but they were tied up on account of fires. They had several fires on Thanksgiving day.
     'The plane really looked good from my tower, which is 3,150 feet above sea level, 710 feet above Beckley, and I can see fires over four counties.' " (Raleigh Register)

November 28, 1943: "The observer and his son, who operates the Dixon Motor company, at Glen Rogers, built a windmill at the Lick Knob tower which furnishes power to generate electricity for lights and a radio receiving set. Both father and son are adept at mechanics; in fact during the periods when he is not on duty as an observer the father often works with the son in the garage at Glen Rogers." (Raleigh Register)

LITTLE MOUNTAIN

Pocahontas County - National Forest

LONE STAR

Nicholas County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

LOUDOUN HEIGHTS

Removed

MANN MOUNTAIN

Fayette County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

McGOWAN

Tucker County - State

May 20, 1913: $142.50 was spent on trail and telephone line construction. (West Virginia - Forest, Game & Fish Warden Biennial Report 1913-14)

1916: "This station is located in Black Fork District of Tucker County, three miles from Hambleton, and is under the supervision of F.M. Glenn. The station may be reached on foot from Hambleton. The elevation is 3,354 feet and commands a view of approximately six hundred square miles. The watchman, Clyde Westfall, lives at Hambleton and only stays at the station at night when there is very dry weather. He receives his mail each day at Hambleton, and telegrams can be delivered to him from the same point by phone in ten minutes.
Two and three-fourths miles of phone line have been built. This is known as the "McGowan Line,' and connects with the Mutual Lines at Hendricks. The line is partly built on poles and partly on trees and is in fair condition." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)

MICHAEL MOUNTAIN

Pocahontas County - West Virginia Conservation Commission

MIKES KNOB

Greenbrier County - Monongahela National Forest

MINGO (HORSEPEN MOUNTAIN)

Mingo County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

MOUNTAIN VIEW

Pocahontas County - State

1914: A lookout was established on this point.

1916: "This station is located in Edra District, Pocahontas County, four and one-half miles from Marlinton, and is under the supervision of F.M. Glenn. The station may be reached on foot or horseback from Marlinton. The elevation is 3,198 feet and commands a view of approximately 450 square miles. The watchman, Warwick Ratliff, lives within one-half miles of the station, and has phone service to his house, so only stays at the station at night during very dry weather. He receives his mail daily from Marlinton, from which point telegrams can be delivered to him within ten minutes by phone.
Three-fourths of a mile of phone line has been built to this station, this being known as the 'Birds Run Line,' and connecting with the Mutual Lines of the Mountain View Orchard. The line is built on poles and is in fair condition." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)

MOZARK MOUNTAIN

Tucker County - Monongahela National Forest

MT DESERT

Kanawha County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

December 4, 1927: "During the Christmas holidays members of the hiking club will visit the forest fire tower on Mt. Desert in the vicinity of Putney, where they will spend two days and nights. A cabin has been constructed at this tower which makes it ideal for week-end camps." (Charleston Daily Mail)

Removed

NATHANIEL MOUNTAIN

Hampshire County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

NIGES CLIFF

Pendleton County - West Virginia Conservation Commission

NORTH MOUNTAIN

Berkeley County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

NORTH FORK MOUNTAIN

Pendleton County - Monongahela National Forest

1935 - National Archives (OPA)

Removed

OLGA

McDowell County

OLGA #2

McDowell County

OLGA #3

McDowell County

PADDY KNOB

Pocahontas County - Monongehela National Forest

PANTHER STATE FOREST

McDowell County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

PARTING SPRINGS

Randolph County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

October 10, 1926: "The Parting Springs tower is served by a telephone connected with the Ranwood Store at Pickens where messages may be relayed over the lines of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone company." (Charleston Gazette)

PICKERING KNOB

Mingo County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

Removed

PIGEON ROOST

Grant County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

PIKE KNOB

Pendleton County - National Forest

PILOT KNOB

Mercer County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

PINEY KNOB

Boone County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

PINNACLE KNOB

Mineral County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

1916: "This station is located in Elk District, Mineral County, eight miles from Barnum, and is under the supervision of F.M. Glenn. The station may be reached on foot from Barnum, but carriages or automobiles can get within one mile of station by going from Piedmont. The elevation is 3,327 feet and commands a view of about 800 square miles. The watchman, Charles H. Broadwater, lives five miles from the station, and goes home each night. The station is only one story high, but a cabin will be built in the near future so that the watchman may remain there overnight in extremely dry weather. He receives his mail from Barnum three times each week, and telegrams may be delivered to him from the same point by phone within ten minutes.
Seven miles of phone line have been built to this station, three miles being known as the 'New Creek Line,' and connecting with the Mutual Lines at New Creek. This line is built on both poles and trees and is in fair condition." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)

October 10, 1926: "The Pinnacle Knob tower telephone is served from the New Creek Valley line which is connected with the Keyser central office." (Charleston Gazette)

POINT MOUNTAIN

Webster County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

POND RIDGE (WIDEN)

Clay County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

POPLAR RIDGE

Braxton County - West Virginia Conservation Commission

RED OAK

Webster County - Monogahela National Forest

RED SPRUCE

Pocahontas County - Monongahela National Forest

RICH KNOB

Greenbrier County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

RICH MOUNTAIN

Randolph County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

July 9, 1925: "The Rich Mountain tower in Randolph county has an average observation range of 20 miles and in some directions forests for 30 miles can be observed from it." (Charleston Gazette)

October 10, 1926: "The Rich Mountain tower in Randolph county is connected with the central office of Beverly>" (Telephone service) (Charleston Gazette)

1999: The lookout tower was purchased by the Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort, dismantled and re-erected at the resort.

ROUND KNOB

Raleigh County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

SAND SPRING

Preston County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

postcard, pm 1942 - Ron Kemnow Collection

Removed

SHARP'S KNOB

Pocahontas County - Monongahela National Forest

SHAWNEE MOUNTAIN

McDowell County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

October 10, 1926: "The Shawnee Mountain tower in McDowell County is connected with the Northfork central office of the Bluefield Telephone Company." (Charleston Gazette)

November 13, 1939: "State Forester Dan Griffin reported today a widespread search in progress for a fire tower watchman missing 36 hours during a new outbreak of forest fires.
All efforts to reach William Thompson at his station atop Shawnee mountain in McDowell county have failed, Griffin said.
The official said the aid of the state police has been enlisted. A separate search of the mountainous areas near the tower is being conducted." (Steubenville Herald Star)

SIDELING HILL

Morgan County - West Virginia Division of Forestry

1929: A tower was erected.

SIGNAL KNOB

Pocahontas County - State

c.1915 - 4th Biennial Report FG&F Warden

1913-14: "Wildell Lumber Company furnished lumber and assisted in construction of Signal Knob Station." (Biennial Report - Forest, Game & Fish Warden - West Virginia - 1913-14)

1916: "This station is located in Green Bank District, Pocahontas County, two miles from Wildell, and is under supervision of F.M. Glenn. The station may be reached on foot from Wildell. The elevation is 4,200 feet, and commands a view of approximately 900 square miles. The watchman, Paul Jones, lives two miles from the station and goes home each night except in very dry weather. He receives his mail daily at Wildell, from which point telegrams can be delivered to him by phone in ten minutes.
Two miles of phone line, known as the 'Signal Knob Line," has been built to the station, and connects with the Association line at Wildell. This line is built on trees and is in fair condition." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)

October 10, 1926: "The tower at Signal Knob near Wildell in Greenbrier County is connected by National Forest telephone circuits." (Charleston Gazette)