The 340th arrived in Watson Lake on 1 September 1942. The 93rd was 63 miles behind them at Pine Lake.
Fourteen year old Frank Watson had come with his father during the gold rush. The two of them wound up on the shores of a lake near the Upper Liard River. When his father returned home, Frank stayed to work their claims. Frank built a cabin, married a local Indian girl and lived a quiet life. In 1941 when an airfield came to the shores of the lake, it became “Watson Lake”.
At the boundary between the northern and southern sectors, Watson Lake was an important site for the Corps of Engineers. The town had a huge Army Camp, an aerodrome and an airfield.
A famous signpost appeared in Watson Lake, pointing to various cities and noting mileage. When Pvt. Carl K. Lindley repaired the sign, he personalized it by installing a pointer to his home town-Danville Illinois-with mileage.
Today the Signpost Forest of Watson Lake occupies several acres and continues to grow.
