GORE MOUNTAIN
Vermont - Essex County
1912: "The state law, passed in 1910, gave the state forester authority to employ watchmen to be located at lookout stations established by land owners. Arrangements have now been completed whereby the landowners in the northern part of Essex County are to equip such station on Gore Mountain. The telephone line is at this writing being built. Before the close of the 1912 fire season this station should be in operation. The monies subscribed for the construction of this station was on the basis of four mils per acre protected as follows:
Connecticut Valley Lumber Company --- $260.00; Strobel, Richard & Willoughby --- $120.00; Caswell & Davis --- $36.00; International Paper Company --- $6.00; William S. Baldwin --- $9.60; and Berlin Mills Company --- $108.00. For a total of $539.60." (4th Annual Report of the Vermont State Forester)
Connecticut Valley Lumber Company --- $260.00; Strobel, Richard & Willoughby --- $120.00; Caswell & Davis --- $36.00; International Paper Company --- $6.00; William S. Baldwin --- $9.60; and Berlin Mills Company --- $108.00. For a total of $539.60." (4th Annual Report of the Vermont State Forester)
1912: "Trails to enable watchmen to easily reach the summit of a hill or mountain affording a view of the surrounding country. One such trail has already been made to the summit of Gore Mountain where there is to be a lookout tower." (4th Annual Report of the Vermont State Forester)
c.1924: "New steel towers with stairs and glass enclosures have been constructed or are under construction at the following locations: - - Gore." (3rd Biennial Report of the Commissioner of Forestry)
1932: "Repairs have been made at the Gore tower." (Biennial Report of the Forestry Commissioner, ending 6/30/32)
1936: The 121st Company CCC erected a steel tower with stairs and glass enclosed cab to replace an old tower on Gore Mountain. Also a new cabin was constructed for the lookout watchman at this site. (Report, Department of Conservation and Development, term ending June 30, 1936)
1936-38: "New telephone line. Trail improved and streams bridged. Lightning protection installed on tower and cabin. Paint job on tower and cabin. Changed telephone from camp to tower. Installed new fire finder map and table." (Fire Control Work, During period July 1, 1936, to June 30, 1938, "Report of the Department of Conservation and Development" State of Vermont)
1940-42: "Due to settlement, two new foundation piers were poured for the Gore tower." (Report, Department of Conservation and Development, term ending June 30, 1942)
November 7, 1945: "Walter Harlow has finished work at the Gore Mountain fire tower and returned home." (Orleans County Monitor)
1947-48: "Finished shingle siding on woodshed and stained it. East side of camp slate surfaced shingled. Porch roof repaired (boarding renewed)." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1949-50: "Shingle roof and siding completed. Camp interior painted. Finished rebuilding telephone line. One-half mile of trail relocated under telephone line." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1951-52: "New log bridge constructed over Station Brook." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
April 24, 1953: "Lyle Hopkins arrived at the fire tower on Gore Mt. on April 15th. He reports considerable snow still on the mountain." (Essex County Herald)
1953-54: "Replaced 3/4 mile of wire burned by lightning. Camp stained and trimmed with white." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1955-56: "Six miles of new telephone line was constructed and the system converted to dial." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
April 13, 1956: "Lyle Hopkins, a member of the fire tower lookout watchmen of the Vermont Forest Service, was among the ten lookout watchmen who were awarded USAF Meritorious certificates recently, by Lt. Col. C. V. Charnonneau, Ground Observer coordinator for Vermont. The ten lookouts have served in the towns during the past ten years.
Mr. Hopkins resides at East Charlston near Echo Lake, and is watchman at Gore Mt." (Essex County Herald)
Removed
DESIGNATION - GORE MTN LOT
PID - PF1021
STATE/COUNTY- VT/ESSEX
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - NORTON POND (1989)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1968 (JBJ)
THE STATION IS THE CENTER OF THE TOP OF A LOOKOUT TOWER,
THAT IS ABOUT 60 FEET HIGH. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT 9 MILES EAST
OF MORGAN CENTER AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NORTON, ON THE
SUMMIT OF GORE MOUNTAIN.