High Knob Fire Tower, WV: Volunteer Restoration Project (1)

Join us atop the rugged hills of West Virginia at the High Knob Fire Tower, the only stone constructed fire tower east of the Mississippi.

SESSION DATES: May 25-30, June 1-6, June 8-13, and June 15-20

CAPACITY PER SESSION: 6 Volunteers (No Kitchen Helper)

CREW LEADER: Karina Burbank!

SITE INFORMATION:

Rising atop the crest of Shenandoah Mountain is the High Knob Fire Tower, a one of kind stone-constructed lookout tower built in the 1930s that symbolizes a pivotal era of forestry management and labor force cooperation. Formerly the Shenandoah National Forest from 1917-1932, the now George Washington and Jefferson National Forests has been a pioneer in forest fire prevention, establishing an early precedent for the era to prevent, detect, and suppress wildfires.

LOCATION: Located on the Virginia and West Virginia borderline 22 miles Northwest of Harrisonburg, VA.

SCOPE OF WORK: 

HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff and other volunteers while applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the High Knob Fire Tower, you will assist to:

• Selectively pull up cat walk decking for assessment
• Re-glazing and repairing all windows surrounding observation room
• Minor carpentry repairs

Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.

LOGISTICS:

Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.

Tents, truck and car campers, campervans, trailers, and RVs 25 feet and under will have access to our campsite. Hookups are not available, dogs are allowed, and showers will be available at our campsite. There is a small lake at our campsite which would be great for kayaking after work!

WEATHER:  Anticipate highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.

ABOUT VOLUNTEERING: HistoriCorps projects are free for volunteers! HistoriCorps will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the campsite, sleeping equipment, work gloves, clothes and boots, and other personal gear.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION!