A Peek into Summers County’s Past: The Fire Tower

If you are from Summers County, chances are you know about the “ fire tower, ” or have at least heard about it at one time or another over the years. It has become a landmark and geographical point of reference among the locals. If you say or hear someone say, “ Up at the fire tower, ” you know they are referring to the upper portion of Griffiths Creek, Keeneys Mountain, Clayton, Tempa or just that general vicinity.

Before I delve into the history of it that was provided to me by Karen Wygle, a good friend of mine and fellow local historian, particularly of the Clayton area . Let me say that if you hear someone enunciate “ fire tower ” you may not know what they are talking about . That is because (and I say this with the utmost respect) over the years the locals, especially the older generations, have altered and shortened it to “ far tar .”

I have picked up this country vernacular. After hearing my grandfather talk about hunting trips that he and his father had taken “ up by the far tar, ” for decades, I picked up on it, and it is now how I pronounce it. I recently mentioned it in a conversation with a friend from Virginia. And I got the head cocked to the side and a “ What did you say? ” “ I said Far Tar .”

He then let out an “ Ohhh you mean fire tower. ” I replied, “ Yes, that is what I said, far tar. ” We both laughed and left it at that, haha. Further, I should add that if it wasn't for the “ far tar ” I wouldn’t have ever been born. A bit of a stretch , I know , but my parents, who had met at parades over the years started dating in 1976 when Dad went with his friend Davis Knapp up to the “ far tar. ”

Davis happened to be my mother's second cousin. You see, the Thompson and Knapp side of my mother's family used to get together at the “ far tar ” a lot back in the day. And now the rest is history.

The fire tower was proposed and designed under The New Deal, a Public Works Administration or (PWA) program aimed at reducing the unemployed and rebuilding our economy during The Great Depression , it was proposed on August 19, 1936. The tower was erected under the direction of State Forest Officer Nutter, who supervised the dedicated employment of members of the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps.

It was 79 feet tall and overlooked the entire valley, having been built on Keeney’s Knob near Alderson. With the professional and prompt work provided by the young men of the CCC, it was finished before the expected date. It was planned for the tower to have an attendant on staff at all times. The tower was supplied with a telephone connection so calls could be made to areas that were experiencing a fire.

January 17, 1937: " The steel for the framework is on the ground where each tower will be erected.  Workmen are preparing to pour concrete for the foundations now. A tower will be erected on Keeney's Knob, in Greenbrier county, about eight miles northwest of Alderson. " (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)

June 13, 1937: " Work has been started by CCC workers on the 79-foot steel fire tower which, according to plans of the state conservation commission, is to be the center of a 13-acre public park on Keeney's Knob, the highest point in southern West Virginia. ” This brought about improved roads throughout the Clayton, Griffiths Creek, and Tempa areas.

This site was chosen because it is 3,945 feet above sea level and has a view for miles and miles. September 27, 1937: " Employees of the state conservation committee began work on erection of an 79-foot steel fire tower on top of Keeney's Knob. " (Charleston Daily Mail)

O.H. Mann of Keeney's Knob was appointed tower keeper to maintain a constant lookout for fires. A cabin for the keeper will top the tower. A recreation park surrounding the tower on the peak of the knob is included in the commission's plans for the project.

I have not been able to find when the tower stopped “ officially ” being used as a “ fire tower. ” Over the years, vandals have wreaked havoc with the wooden stairs to the lookout cabin , it was even set on fire several times. The stairs have, in recent decades, fallen into disrepair due to the elements. The cabin tower is not accessible any longer. Sadly, the wooden stairs to it are gone in sections, and the floor is completely gone at this point in the cabin.

The old photo you see is an early view of the tower and how it looked for many years while serving the community. The new photo was provided to me by Anthony Gray through the owners of the J&J Country Roads Store in Pence Springs. Notice the bad condition the tower is now in this recent photo.

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