Article Discussion

Emory “Pop” Wriston who built the first steel fire tower on Backbone mt. in Tucker County said the very first fire tower to go up in the state of West Virginia was at Ivy Knob, Raleigh County. It was a wooden 2 story pyramid model, Jenny Lynn" type built by Sil Coon in 1916. The info came from Robert Beannblossom when he compiled an article he wrote in 1987 titled: Fire Towers, “Pop” Wriston built the big ones". The National Historic Lookout Register for Ivy Knob states that as well. The steel tower there now is the second oldest tower still standing built in 1924 by “Pop” Wriston. Bald Knob near Cass is the oldest still standing & is a 47 foot Blaw Knox type. “Pop” built that one too. Ivy Knob tower is a LS40 aermotor 56 foot to the top. It was the first of its kind to go up in the state. Thanks so much for yout great output for the fire towers of WV.

Ronnie Scarbro