IDAHO COUNTY
PILOT KNOB
Nez Perce National Forest
30N-6E-28
30N-6E-28
July 7, 1921: "Thos. Crossley will take a crew to the Mountain House to build a telephone line from that point to the Pilot Knob lookout station." (The Grangeville Globe)
July 16, 1914: "Tom Crossley came in from Castle creek Tuesday. He reports that he has established a lookout station on Pilot Knob, and that forest guard, George E. Watkins, is stationed there as look-out, being on duty as look-out day and night for fires in any part of the reserve visible from his station and particularly in his district. The altitude of Pilot Knob is 7100 feet and it gives a great range of vision in all directions. The Seven Devils are plainly visible from the point, as is Grangeville and Tom says that the new Grangeville school house can be very plainly seen. The South Fork as well as its tributaries are very low now." (Idaho County Free Press)
July 8, 1915: "District five extends up into the South Fork country and is in charge of ranger Tom Crossley. George Watkins is his lookout man stationed at Pilot Knob." - "A cabin will be built at Pilot Knob. Ben Anderson and Wm. Droogs are in charge of this work." (Idaho County Free Press)
August 10, 1916: "Geo. E. Watkins, of Mt. Idaho, and Levi Colgrove, of Orogrande, in the employ of the Forest service and stationed at Pilot Knob, on the reserve, were struck by lightning Tuesday afternoon and rendered unconscious. The news was received by Supervisor Ring Wednesday and was to the effect that the men had been struck in the afternoon of Tuesday during the severe storm, a slight portion of which visited this section. The phone, located some forty feet from the tent, and a considerable quantity of No. 9 wire was completely destroyed. Both men were knocked down, Watkins apparently receiving the most severe shock, as Colgrove was the first to regain consciousness. Yesterday morning the men were both feeling the worse for their experience, and Colgrove with great difficulty made his way to the Mountain House to secure aid and it was from this point that the supervisor's office here was apprised of the occurrence. As is usual in such cases the men's legs were affected, and the message stated that they needed a new phone and some wooden legs.
Mr. Watkins arrived in the city this afternoon for medical treatment. He has an abrasion on the top of his head that looks as if he had been struck with a hammer and the ends of each finger on his right hand is blistered. Colgrove, Mr. Watkins stated, was hurt in almost exactly the same place on the head. At the present time Mr. Watkins is suffering considerable annoyance from a stiff neck, which is anticipated will pass away in a short time. Mr. Colgrove is experiencing no serious results and is able to attend to his duties." (The Grangeville Globe)
July 7, 1921: "Thos. Crossley will take a crew to the Mountain House to build a telephone line from that point to the Pilot Knob lookout station." (The Grangeville Globe)
1922: A 10'x10' frame cabin with a hip roof was constructed.
1922: A 10'x10' frame cabin with a hip roof was constructed.
1939: An L-4 cab built atop a 10-foot timber tower.
August 9, 1947: “Mr. and Mrs. Ben Elwood have returned from a trip on which they visited their son and Daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Elwood at the Pilot Knob lookout station in the Nez Perce national forest.” (The Colville Examiner)