August 11, 2026
Remembering a Great Writer
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of J.A. Baker, the British author who wrote “The Peregrine,” the…
What is this, and where in Allendale did I photograph it?
Answer: It's a benchmark from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and it's next to the Allendale firehouse.
More about these markers here:
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-can-i-find-survey-benchmark-and-triangulation-station-information
There used to be one on top of High Mountain but it and its replacements reportedly kept getting stolen. Still fun to try to find where it was.
My favorite fake: A U.S. Geological Survey benchmark, sold as a keychain fob at the Grand Canyon. (So sorry to hear about the wildfires there.)