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 KNOBTucker 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 MOUNTAINGreenbrier/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)
|
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
October 10, 1926: "The Elk Knob observer may transfer messages from Whitesville over lines connected with the East Bank switchboard." (Charleston Gazette)
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 - State
|
c.1914: State Forest, Game & Fish Warden - Biennial Report
|
1913-1914: "L.L. Bennett contracted to supply a watchman at his own expense for a term of three years for Laurel Hill Station." (Biennial Report - Forest, Game & Fish Warden - West Virginia - 1913-14)
1916: "This station is located on the line between Barbour and Randolph Counties, seven miles from Elkins and five miles from Bellington. The elevation is 3,075 feet and commands a view of approximately 500 square miles. No regular watchman is employed as there is a family living within two hundred feet of the station and these people go to the tower several times daily and make observations, and report any fires discovered to this office from which point they are taken charge of or deputies notified. The station is built only one story high, and is not enclosed. A map table is used and a metal cover to protect it from the weather is provided.
Practically all land in the territory of this station is in small tracts, and as the section is thickly settled and good phone service may be had very few bad fires occur." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)
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
1929: A tower was erected.
2008: The tower was removed.
NORTH FORK MOUNTAIN
Pendleton County - Monongahela National Forest
|
1935 - National Archives (OPA)
|
1935 - National Archives (OPA)
|
Removed
OLGAMcDowell 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 KNOBMercer 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
POTATO HILL
Webster County - State
May 9, 1913: A sum of $81.00 was spent on a contract in the establishment of a lookout structure. (West Virginia - Forest, Game & Fish Warden Biennial Report 1913-14)
1916: "This station is located in Fork Lick District, Webster County, twelve miles from Webster Springs, and is under the supervision of David Frame. The station may be reached on horse-back from Webster Springs. The elevation is 3,550 feet and commands a view of about 700 square miles. The watchman, Roy R. Rutherford, gets his mail at Woodzell twice a week during the fire season, and at Webster Springs outside of the fire season. The nearest telegraph office is Cowen, from which point messages can ordinarily be delivered to the station in one hour. The watchman lives twelve miles from the station and necessarily has to stay at the station each night.
Seven miles of telephone line have been built to the station, four miles being known as the 'Point Mountain Line,' and connecting with the Mutual Lines within one-half mile of Waneta. This line is built on poles and is in good condition. Three miles is known as the 'Potato Hill and Bergoo Line," and connects with the Beverly and Merlinton Lines at Bergoo. This line is built mostly on trees and is in good condition." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)
October 10, 1926: "In Webster County the Potato Hill tower is served by telephone lines connected with the central office at Webster Springs." (Charleston Gazette)
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
October 10, 1926: "The Round Knob tower, in Raleigh County is served by the Beckley central office." (Telephone service) (Charleston Gazette)
August 8, 1928: "The state game and fish commission announced Tuesday that construction on the new 75-foot steel observation tower for forest-fire wardens to be located on Round Knob, Raleigh county, will start within two weeks. Round Knob is located near the head of Little Beaver river and has an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level.
The tower will be connected by telephone to the Beckley exchange and will be under the supervision of a new district ranger." (Charleston Daily Mail)
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)
SLEEPY CREEK MOUNTAIN
Berkeley County - West Virginia Division of Forestry
SMOKE CAMP KNOB
Pocahontas County - Monogahela National Forest
|
|
SNAGGY MOUNTAIN
Preston County - Maryland Department of Natural Resources
January 1, 1925: "Construction of a 60-foot steel tower with modern equipment on Snaggy Mountain, just over the West Virginia line, and which will cover 4,000 acres of forest in Maryland, will begin this week, according to Karl Pfeiffer, assistant state forester.
Cost of replacing the wooden lookout now used on the Garrett county side of the mountain will be borne by West Virginia, and Maryland will pay for the cost of maintaining it and also man the structure with three deputy wardens. This marks another step in the co-operative program of fire prevention work by Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania." (Cumberland Evening Times)
July 9, 1925: "One of the finest observation towers in the state has been placed in operation on Snaggy mountain, near Terra Alta, and will be operated jointly by the forest protection officials of West Virginia and Maryland. Forests for 15 miles in any direction can be protected from the tower in West Virginia and for ten miles in any direction in Maryland." (Charleston Gazette)
October 10, 1926: "The Snaggy Mountain tower on the Maryland-West Virginia state line is owned jointly by both states. It is connected with the central offices at Terra Alta, W.Va. and Oakland, Md." (Charleston Gazette)
SNOWSHOE
Pocahontas County - Private
|
|
SPRING MOUNTAIN
Logan County - West Virginia Division of Forestry
|
|
SPRUCE KNOB
Pendleton County - State
|
undated postcard - Ron Kemnow Collection
|
1916: "This station is now being constructed in Circleville District, Pendleton County, and will be under the supervision of F.M. Glenn. It is located on the extreme top of Spruce Knob, the highest point in the state, 4,860 feet, and naturally commands an excellent view of the surrounding territory. Moses R. Bennett was put on duty as watchman during the spring season of 1916, in order to give him a chance to get acquainted with the people, and to distribute literature until such time as a station could be built. The country surrounding this station contains much fine timber, and is not very thickly settled. No data is yet available as to the amount of territory visible from the station but probably something near 1,000 square miles will be protected." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)
STOP KNOB
Fayette County - West Virginia Conservation Commission
October 10, 1926: "The Stop Knob tower near Powellton in Fayette County is served from the Montgomery central office." (Telephone service) (Charleston Gazette)
April 26, 1929: The Southern West Virginia Fire Protective association appropriated $400 to construct living quarters for the observer at Stop Knob, Fayette county. (Charleston Daily Mail)
SUGAR GROVE KNOB
Nicholas County - West Virginia Division of Forestry
|
|
TAMS MOUNTAIN
Raleigh County - West Virginia Division of Forestry
|
|
THORNY MOUNTAIN
Pocahontas County - West Virginia Division of Forestry - Seneca State Forest
|
|
TICK RIDGE
Wayne County - West Virginia Division of Forestry
|
|
TIP TOP
Preston County - State
1916: "This station is located in Portland District, Preston County, two miles from Amblersburg, and is under the supervision of F.M. Glenn. The station may be reached on foot or horse-back from Amblersburg. The elevation is 3,000 feet and commands a view of approximately 700 square miles. The watchman, Robert F. Arnold, lives a quarter of a mile from the station, and does not stay at the station at night except in extremely dry weather. He receives his mail daily on Route 4, from Terra Alta. Telegrams can be delivered to the station from Terra Alta in about thirty minutes.
One and one-half miles of phone line, known as the 'Arnold Line,' and connecting with the Consolidated Company lines at Rowlesburg Road have been built. This line is built on both poles and trees and is in fair condition." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)
TURKEY MOUNTAIN (KNOB)
Webster County - State
 May 1919 - National Archives (OPA)
|
1913-14: "The Pardee and Curtin Lumber Company, of Curtin, contributed $200.00 for the purpose of building and equipping lookout station on Turkey Mountain, in Webster County." (Biennial Report - Forest, Game & Fish Warden - West Virginia - 1913-14)
1916: "This station is located in Fork Lick District, Webster County, twelve miles from Webster Springs, and is under the supervision of David Frame. The station may be reached on horse-back from Webster Springs. The elevation is 3,887 feet and commands a view of 325 square miles. A very high tower has been built of poles near the station and a platform placed on top of this, from which a view of about 525 square miles may be obtained. The watchman remains at the station each night during fire season. His mail is delivered to him once each week from Webster Springs, and telegrams can be forwarded to him within one hour from Cowen.
Five miles of telephone line have been built to the station. This is known as the 'State Telephone Line,' and connects with the Beverly and Marlinton lines on top of Elk Mountain. Connection is also made with a line owned by the Central West Virginia Fire Protective Association at the home of Bernard Baughman. This line is built on poles and trees and is in good condition." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)
December 14, 1923: "Trooper Levi Bullion of the West Virginia State Police was commended recently by his superior officer, Colonel Jackson Arnold, for his heroism in carrying an injured hunter, James Lockhart, for a distance of ten miles to the lookout station of Rimfire Hamrick on Turkey Mountain, thus saving the man's life." (Bessemer Herald - Michigan)
October 10, 1926: "In Webster County the Turkey Mountain tower is served by telephone lines connected with the central office at Webster Springs." (Charleston Gazette)
WEISS KNOB
Tucker County - State
May 20, 1913: A sum of $137.48 was expended on trail and telephone line construction. (West Virgina - Forest, Game & Fish Warden Biennial Report 1913-14)
1916: "This station is located in Tucker County, and is under the supervision of F.M. Glenn. It is at an elevation of 4,490 feet, and good service has been secured from it in the past. However, during the past year it was necessary to abandon it, temporarily, in order to secure a watchman at another point. A watchman will probably be put on duty there again within a short time." (4th Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden)
WHITE OAK KNOB
Boone County - West Virginia Division of Forestry
February 20, 1938: "One new wooden fire tower was added to the detection system during the period of this report. It is located on White Oak knob in Boone county at an elevation of 2,000 feet." (Bluefield Daily Telegraph) From the 2nd half 1937 report by District Ranger.
WILLIAMS HILL
Boone County - West Virginia Division of Forestry
October 10, 1926: "From the Williams Hill tower there is a telephone line to Seth, Boone County, from which point messages can be transmitted through the Charleston long distance office." (Charleston Gazette)
Removed
WRISTON KNOB (BACON KNOB)
Raleigh County - West Virginia Division of Forestry
|
|
