WEST VIRGINIA LOOKOUTS
POINT MOUNTAIN (POTATO HILL)
​West Virginia Division of Forestry
​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)
​May 5, 1963: "A blind forest fire observer? Yes, it's possible.
During the first three days of the past deer season, days that were warm and dry, many Department of Natural Resources fire observers were still on duty in their towers.
Some towers, like the one at Point Mountain in Webster County, keep observers on duty during the full week of deer season for radio dispatching duties. But the man on Point Mountain fire tower was very unique--he was a fire observer, and he was blind.
The observer, E.D. Harrison, was relaying fire traffic for other towers in the area, as well as his own information. With the woods crackling dry and full of deer hunters, quick stabs of forest fires were more fact than fancy.
And Harrison, blind, was there doing his job. Smoke and flames from illegal burning were being reported every afternoon, sometimes at the rate of two or three at a time.
Harrison's eyes had become infected the day before deer season and medical attention called for bandages over both eyes. But because of his knowledge of radio techniques, Harrison's services were needed. The State Road Commission at Webster Springs came to assistance by providing Mr. Emory Messer of Bolair, a man who had never before been in a fire tower, but who indeed had a good pair of eyes.
Messer, acting as Harrison's eyes, spotted the smoke, and Harrison relayed the information to fire control personnel." (Post Herald-Register)