BURKE MOUNTAIN
Vermont - Caledonia County - Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
1912: "In 1912 Mr. Elmer A. Darling built a camp and the first lookout tower on Burke Mountain. Telephone lines were built on to Burke and Gore Mountains. Nine pulp and lumber companies raised $686.40 to aid in this construction." (History of Forestry in Vermont)
1916: Mr. Burrington, the lookoutman on Burke Mountain cautioned about 400 people in the woods in regard to leaving camp fires burning, etc. (8th Annual Report of the Vermont State Forester)
February 8, 1932: "The forest fire lookout tower on Burke mountain has been blown down according to a report received today by Perry H. Merrill, commissioner of forestry. The tower which was weakened by the elements until an especially severe wind blew it down. No decision has been made regarding its replacement. The tower was erected for the state by the late Elmer A. Darling." (Montpelier Evening Argus)
July 28, 1932: "The fire station tower on Burke Mountain is being rebuilt, under the direction of the Vermont State Forestry Department, and it is expected to be completed before the total eclipse on Aug. 31. This mountain summit is the highest in this section and in the path of the moon's shadow." (Essex County Herald)
1932: "The Burke tower, which was built by the late Elmer Darling, collapsed last winter under snow and ice pressure. Mr. L.A. Darling has furnished the material for a new tower which will be built later." (3rd Biennial Report of the Commissioner of Forestry)
December 12, 1934: "On the identical site where an old wooden tower used to stand, was erected an enclosed 45 ft. 6 in. steel tower. This will be open to public use along with its duties as a fire tower and will afford the sightseer the longest range of vision in the state. Montreal and Mount Royal on the north, the White Mountains and sections of Maine on the east, the Adirondacks on the west, and the extremities of the lake on the south compose the view from this tower." (St. Albans Daily Messenger)
July 29, 1935: "The State planning board held a week-end meeting on Burke Mountain, in company with Forestry Commissioner Perry H. Merrill. Publicity Director Harold H. Chadwick and Philip Shutler, executive secretary of the planning board, looking over the developments which have been made in this 1,800 acre State forest and discussing in general the possibilities for further recreational development.
A good road has been built to the summit of the mountain, where a new lookout tower has been erected, and there is a convenient tourist camp and picnic spot on the road." (The Burlington Free Press)
1937: The tower destroyed in the "Great Hurricane."
September 29, 1938: "Officials of the Vermont Department of Forestry are now busy surveying damage to the State's timberland reserves. It has been established that the Burke Mountain lookout and fire protection tower and other towers were swept from the peaks by the gale." (Essex County Herald)
1938: A 54-foot Aermotor tower with 7x7 cab completed.
1940-42: "The light copper roofs furnished for the towers at Ascutney, Burke and Monadnock were so light that they blew off. They were replaced with galvanized iron." (Report, Department of Conservation and Development, term ending June 30, 1942)
June 21, 1945: AD. "Anyone interested in manning a fire tower contact Roy E. Freeto, East Burke or phone the Burke Mt. Lookout Station, Lyndonville." (The Caledonian-Record)
1947-48: "Completed lightning protection on camp. Camp floor painted." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
December 17, 1947: "Previous to the installation of the transmitting receiving equipment, antennae towers and buildings to house the equipment were erected. Cinder block buildings have been or will be built at three of the sites while natural stone was used in the Pico peak building.
The building on Burke mountain has not been constructed as yet and fire wardens shelter will be used and the fire lookout tower, will serve as the antennae tower for the present." (The Barre Daily Times)
October 14, 1948: "John Austin fire tower watchman and general caretaker of the Burke Mountain area, announced today that the gates to the toll road up the mountain would be closed and locked tomorrow evening. A notice to this effect has been received from the Forest Service Office in Montpelier, Austin stated. The road will remain closed until next spring.
According to Austin's orders vehicles will be allowed to make use of the road most of tomorrow, but at 9 P.M. the gates will be closed for the remainder of the season. After that time mountaineers will have to leave their cars at the base of the mountain and continue to the top by foot.
It is believed that the Burke Mountain road will be open to motorists again by Memorial day, 1949." (The Caledonian-Record)
1949-50: "New telephone cable installed at tower. Lightning protection installed on camp." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
May 5, 1951: "John Dunphy began work at the forest fire tower at Burke Mt. April 29. The road is not yet open to the public." (The Caledonian-Record)
1951-52: "Camp painted." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1953-54: "Tower stairs and landings painted. 8,900 feet of telephone line constructed and converted station to dial system." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1955-56: "A combined telephone and power line to the top of the mountain was rebuilt with new poles and cross arms for a distance of 6,500 feet." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1957-58: "This station was converted from a part time to a full time station. A base station radio was installed in the tower with a remote control unit in the cabin. This necessitated various additions and modifications of the current, dispatcher maps and sound proofing tower cab." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1984: The tower discontinued in the Fall. One of the final two towers in use prior to this time.