USGS
Bench Mark
"DW 6912"

ca. 1898

Jerry Penry
October 5, 2014

This location is the highest point where a bench mark on the Deadwood Datum was established in the Black Hills. The original location stated that it was placed in a limestone outcrop measuring 30'x60' and was near a traveled road. Today the road is no longer used. The rock outcropping shows signs of mining and removal. The area itself is rather flat with a grass meadow and scattered pine. The location where the rock was located is obvious due to some remaining slabs at ground level and many small broken pieces. A metal detector was used over the entire area and nothing was found. It is assumed that the bench mark was removed when the rock outcropping was removed.

The area has been logged many years ago. The two bearing trees mentioned in the 1898 description were searched for and not conclusively found. The tree to the northwest might still exist as a stump, but there are no discernible markings on it.

Jerry Penry with metal detector looking over the area where the rock outcropping was once located.

The description from 1898.

Remains of the rock outcropping.

More evidence of the old rock outcropping.

Some nearby boulders being used to block the old road. Perhaps taken from the outcropping.

Possible bearing tree located to the Northwest.

Closeup of the same tree with many woodpecker holes.

A nearby snow measuring device located west of the bench mark location.

A "Snow Survey" sign on a tree.

Other Deadwood Datum Bench Marks

© Jerry Penry 2014