Nob Hill

Long before it was a quiet spot to catch a breeze or take a walk, Nob Hill was the ultimate local lookout. Right after Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. government realized this high vantage point, perched right next to Morgan Hill’s old water tank, was the perfect place to scan the skies to watch for enemy aircraft. They built an official Aircraft Warning Service post here, giving it the top-secret sounding military call sign "26GRACE3." There was an old cabin on top of the hill  that the Boy Scouts used for meetings. The government enlisted local boys, including Doug Downer, and the Boy Scout troop, to “man the site”, write down every aircraft that passed over and report each to the Aircraft Warning Service. They did this in shifts before and after school. (If they were late for school, they got scolded by the elementary school principal, Ms. Richie.) 

For the rest of the war, a dedicated crew of local civilian volunteers pulled day-and-night shifts right on this hill. They spent hours scanning the horizons for enemy planes, ready to sound the alarm and protect the California coast. So, as you enjoy the view today, you’re standing exactly where everyday Morgan Hill neighbors kept watch, proving that even a small town can play its part in world history!

This  site is now the location of  Nob Hill Trail Park with fitness stations, two slides, and a walking path. It can be accessed up Third Street, west of Monterey Road.