SCRAG MOUNTAIN (MOUNT ALICE)
Vermont - Washington County
September 27, 1933: "The State Forest Service under Camp Superintendent S. J. Nichols have completed a fire tower at Waitsfield using C.C.C. men from this camp. This side camp will be moved to Bakersfield soon." (The Waterbury Record)
October 4, 1933: "With the Forestry Department S. J. Nichols, Camp Superintendent.
At Mt Allis in Waitsfield a thirty-five foot fire tower has been built with a look out cabin for forest rangers which is equipped with telephone. To install the telephone line two miles of poles had to be set and wired. Considerable difficulty was encountered in building this tower as the mountain was so steep that the materials had to be hauled up on horse back and by men. On the last pitch a thirty-five foot cliff had to be scaled and materials hauled over it by means of ropes." (Waterbury Record)
July 13, 1944: "Miss Louis Shutler of Northfield is employed by the State as fire warden at the Mount Alice fire tower. Miss Shutler began her work last week." (The Waterbury Record)
August 18, 1944: "State Forester Perry H. Merrill said that the rain was spotty throughout the state, being very heavy in some sections and light in other places. He emphasized that a steady drizzle of two or three days' duration would be necessary to alleviate the forest fire danger.
During the thunder and lightning storm last night the wooden fire outlook tower on Scrag mountain in Waitsfield was struck by lightning and destroyed about 8:30 p.m. This tower was located on the mountain range between Northfield and Waitsfield. Plans for replacing it have not been completed." (The Barre Daily Times)
August 23, 1944: "The fire lookout tower located on Mt. Alice was struck by lightning Thursday night and burned. Town Fire Warden Nelson Patch and several other men, fearing a forest fire might result from the burning tower, went on to the mountain and extinguished the fire, but they did not reach the tower before it had been completely ruined by the fire." (The Burlington Free Press)
August 23, 1944: "The Mt. Alice fire tower was struck by lightning last Thursday evening and was destroyed by fire. A new tower is planned to be built in the near future." (The Barre Daily Times)
September 20, 1947: "Earl L. Flanders of the state forest department was a business visitor in town the first of the week to supervise the erection of a steel fire tower on Mount Alice, to take the place of the one which burned a few years ago. Telephone lines have already been established to the mountain." (The Barre Daily Times)
1949 - 1950: "Lightning protection installed on camp. Painted interior of cabin. Tower cab and windows painted and old wooden tower removed." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1951 - 1952: "300 yards of telephone line relocated and line transposed to clear up noise. Inside of cabin repainted and stained outside." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1953 - 1954: "Two sides of cabin stained. Tower stairs painted and inside of cab. Line and trail repaired." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
May 8, 1961: "Frederick Fuller, who has been stationed at the Lookout Tower on Mt. Scragg for the Department of Forestry, is on sick leave at his home with strep throat." (The Burlington Free Press)
Removed
NGS Data Sheet
DESIGNATION - SCRAG MTN LOT
PID - PG1676
STATE/COUNTY- VT/WASHINGTON
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - WAITSFIELD (2018)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1969 (WMJ)
THE STATION IS THE CENTER OF THE TOP OF A FOUR LEGGED STEEL
LOOKOUT TOWER, 50 FEET HIGH AND WITH A GLASS ENCLOSED CABIN
ON THE TOP.
IT IS ABOUT 6 MILES WEST OF NORTHFIELD, 3-1/2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
WAITSFIELD AND ON THE SUMMIT OF SCRAG MOUNTAIN.
PID - PG1676
STATE/COUNTY- VT/WASHINGTON
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - WAITSFIELD (2018)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1969 (WMJ)
THE STATION IS THE CENTER OF THE TOP OF A FOUR LEGGED STEEL
LOOKOUT TOWER, 50 FEET HIGH AND WITH A GLASS ENCLOSED CABIN
ON THE TOP.
IT IS ABOUT 6 MILES WEST OF NORTHFIELD, 3-1/2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
WAITSFIELD AND ON THE SUMMIT OF SCRAG MOUNTAIN.