MOUNT AGAMENTICUS
Maine - York County
1918: "It is a pleasure to report that after much difficulty in making arrangements, the Department has been able to erect on Agamenticus Mt. and Ossipee Hill steel towers twenty-four feet in height each. These were erected in co-operation with the U.S. Forest Service. The material was paid for entirely by this Department with money received from the Contingent Fund of the Governor and Council. The material cost $391.49 and the erection of same cost $1,006.51. Telephone connection of these towers with the New England Telephone Co. will be completed early next spring. The maps for these stations have been sketched and will be ready for the fire season of 1919." (1918 Annual Report of the Forest Commission)
1920: "The lookout station on Agamenticus Mountain opened during the last week of April, and the watchman kept on duty until the last day of September. Thirty-six fires were reported by the watchman. The salary was paid by the United States Forest Service under the Weeks Law agreement." (1920 Annual Report of the Forest Commissioner)
1934: "In the fall of 1934 two changes were made. The old original steel tower on Agamenticus Mountain, erected in 1918, was dismantled and a fifteen foot extension added, raising the height to forty feet. This tower was then moved to and erected on Bear Mt. in the town of Hartford, Oxford County. A new 47-foot steel tower with stairways was then erected on Agamenticus Mt. to replace the old one." (Annual Report of the Forest Commissioner of the State of Maine)
May 25, 1935: "47 foot tower" (The Lewiston Daily Sun)
August 31, 1937: "By the flickering rays of a kerosene lantern, in the tower of the Mt. Agamenticus forest fire station. Lloyd R. Avery of Cape Neddick and Miss Mildred W. Hartwell of Roxbury, Mass., were married Sunday night.
The ceremony was performed by Rev. Stanley Stevens.
A few friends of the couple were present." (Biddeford Daily Journal)
July 23, 1950: "Believed to have been caused by blueberry pickers, the fire was discovered at 1:30 p.m.. by the lookout on Mount Agamenticus.
With its rapid spread through the piles of dry brush and fallen small growth, the fire assumed such proportions that help was summoned from outlying towns. Meanwhile three state fire wardens arrived and from time to time communicated with the State Forestry Department at Augusta." (Portland Press Herald)
April 4, 1963: "Agamenticus Mountain is the first lookout tower to be placed in operation, but others will soon be opening in southern and coastal sections of the state. Manning the Agamenticus tower this season will be Edward Cahoon of North Berwick." (Biddeford-Saco Journal)
September 30, 1969: "An agile and determined thief broke into the fire tower on top of Mount Agamenticus and stole a 21-inch portable TV belonging to John Chambee.
A hasp on the trap door leading to the tower room was forced. A chain across the road at the base of the mountain was broken." (Portsmouth Herald) (New Hampshire)
April 17, 1974: "The town's four fire departments responded shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday to a woods fire along the power line in the High Pine section.
The fire was discovered by the Mount Agamenticus fire tower." (Portsmouth Herald) (New Hampshire)
July 25, 1977: "Twenty minutes earlier, the fire tower at Mount Agamenticus reported smoke on Avenue A. It was a cookout." (Portsmouth Herald - New Hampshire)
1981: A new cab airlifted to the tower. (From the photo inventory of the Maine Historical Society.)