BEARFORT (cedar pond)
New Jersey - Passaic County
1913: "The first thoroughly equipped and continuous forest fire lookout in the State was installed this season under this agreement (Weeks Law) and through the generous co-operation of the Board of Street and Water Commissioners of Newark. A high tower already standing on the city's property on Bearfort Mountain was provided by the Commissioners with telephone connection and a suitable house for the watcher's headquarters. Since the facilities became available, in the middle of June, a watcher has been on constant duty. With good binoculars, a detailed map of the territory which the tower commands and a thorough knowledge of the location of, and means of reaching, the local wardens promptly, the watcher has not failed to announce every fire that has occurred within his range." (Fire Warden's Report)
1914: "From April till the middle of November, a lookout watchman was on duty at the Cedar Pond Station provided by the Newark City Board of Works upon the city's watershed. During the gunning season, another watchman was stationed on an eminence overlooking a peculiar menace at this time, embracing the more southerly end of the Kittatiny ridge along the Delaware." (Annual Report of the Commissioner of Conservation and Development, 1914-15)
1916: "The tower equipped by the Newark City Board of Works for lookout service having become unfit for use, the City Board has erected a new structure to replace it." (Annual Report of the Commissioner of Conservation and Development, 1915-16)
1917: "Early in April the Lookout Watchman, provided for from this fund (Weeks Law), took up work at the Cedar Pond station on the Newark City watershed. From then until the first of December he has been continuously on duty in the tower provided by the city." (New Jersey Department of Conservation and Development Annual Report - 1917)
1919: "From April until December, 1918, the fire Lookout Station at Cedar Pond was manned by a watcher provided from this fund (Weeks Law), and since April, 1919, it has again been similarly maintained." (New Jersey Department of Conservation and Development Annual Report - 1919)
December 10, 1920: "State Firewarden C.P. Wilber announces the appointment of Leroy S. Fales to the position of Division Firewarden in the North Jersey division. Mr. Fales is a citizen of the State and a veteran of the World War, having served overseas as a captain. He was employed by the State Forest Fire Service last spring while temporarily disabled as a result of his war service, and has been working as fire lookout at the Cedar Pond Lookout Station on the Newark watershed throughout the season. He passed the recent Civil Service examination for the wardenship with a high grade, and took up his new work on December 1st, having charge of the territory north of the Raritan River." (The Cranberry Press)
April 27, 1923: "The Bearfort Tower is a forty-foot frame structure, built for the Forest Fire Service in 1916 by the City of Newark, and is located on Bearfort Mountain, in Passaic county, on the Newark water supply area. It is 1,400 feet above sea level, and commands a view of the beautiful Hamburg Mountains on the west, the crest of the Ramapo Mountains on the east. New York state on the north, and Longwood Valley on the south. Seven lakes may be seen near by.
To reach the tower take the West Milford road from Newfoundland and about four miles north turn to the left at the tower sign. Or from Greenwood Lake pass thru West Milford and turn to the right at the tower sign. The road up the mountain from this point is steep but usable for most cars." (The Freehold Transcript and The Monmouth Inquirer)
April 15, 1932: "A paradox was written into fire annuals last Friday when the old Bearfort Mountain fire tower burned to the ground.
It was believed to have caught from sparks flying from a stove pipe into a rent in the tar paper roof of the look-out box. Charles Stalter, of Hewitt, fire warden on duty, had not reached his home before he was overtaken with word of the disaster.
The alarm was turned in by Nelson Rhinesmith. By the time the section warden, Alexander MacKenn, reached the mountain top, the wooden structure was completely razed." (Greenwood Lake News-Letter)
August 22, 1955: "If Robert Kerr wants to change the name of Stephens Road to Tower Hill Road, he has permission of the Township Committee.
Kerr says there are three Stephens Roads in town and that causes confusion.
He picked Tower Hill Road as the path leads up to Bearfort Mountain, site of the forest fire rangers lookout tower.
The committee said when the day comes when it has rights-of-way in the road, it will formally change the name.
Under the present situation, Kerr can 'hang up a new street sign if he wishes,' the committee said." (The Herald-News)