SPRUCE KNOB
Vermont - Rutland County
1932: A new lookout site was selected on Spruce Knob. (Biennial Report of the Commissioner of Forestry)
September 19, 1933: "A crew of men from the Aitkin state forest camp in Mendon will work during the next few weeks at Spruce Knob, a mountain near Middletown Springs. This crew will construct a telephone line and trail from the highway to the fire lookout tower on the Knob and under the direction of an expert carpenter they will build a glass enclosed cab on the top of the tower.
The timber work of the tower and a camp for the watchman were constructed last year, with local labor, under the supervision of the district forester. This tower overlooks a strip of country about 30 miles long, from Sudbury and Benson on the north, to Danby and Pawlet on the south. It is bounded on the east by the Taconic range of mountains and the outlook to the west extends into New York state. This valley, it is stated, is out of sight of the towers on the main Green Mountain range, located on Stratton, Glastenbury, Okemo in Ludlow, Pico, Cushman and Chipman Hills.
The new tower is constructed of native spruce timbers cut in the vicinity. The lumber and other building materials for the camp and tower inclosure were lashed on sleds made of saplings and drawn up the mountain with horses. Owing to the steep slopes and ledges some of the materials were carried part way by hand." (Rutland Daily Herald)
June 16, 1934: "A new lookout tower on Spruce Knob in Poultney is in operation.
The Spruce Knob tower already has proved of service, according to Wilbur E. Bradder of this city, district forester. The watchman, James McIntyre, reported fires in Castleton, Poultney, Wells and Middleton Springs, and all were extinguished before serious damage had been done." (Rutland Daily Herald)
1936-38: "Installed telephone in tower. Painted tower and camp. Improved trail." (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: "New girders and braces were put in the Spruce Knob tower." (Report, Department of Conservation and Development, term ending June 30, 1942)
1947-48: "Tower completely painted." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1949-50: "Tower painted. Inside of cabin painted. New stove installed. New telephone ground installed." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1951-52: "Cabin painted outside and inside and roof tarred." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
April 22, 1952: "Harold Hathaway of North Rupert is stationed at the fire tower on Spruce Knob." (Rutland Daily Herald)
1953-54: "The tower at Spruce Knob in Middleton has been completely dismantled and the lease of the site terminated. This old wooden tower was badly decayed and beyond repair." "The wooden tower has been razed because of its unsafe condition and the telephone line has been salvaged. A primary air patrol has been established to take over the protection of this area." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
Removed
DESIGNATION - SPRUCE KNOB LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - OD1356
STATE/COUNTY- VT/RUTLAND
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - WEST RUTLAND (1972)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1942 (GWL)
THIS INTERSECTION STATION IS LOCATED ATOP SPRUCE KNOB, A WELL
KNOWN MOUNTAIN ABOUT 9 MILES SW OF RUTLAND. IT IS A STANDARD
4-LEGGED STEEL STRUCTURE WITH A GLASS-ENCLOSED CAGE AT THE TOP AND
IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE VERMONT STATE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSERVATION. THIS STATION WAS NOT VISITED.
PID - OD1356
STATE/COUNTY- VT/RUTLAND
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - WEST RUTLAND (1972)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1942 (GWL)
THIS INTERSECTION STATION IS LOCATED ATOP SPRUCE KNOB, A WELL
KNOWN MOUNTAIN ABOUT 9 MILES SW OF RUTLAND. IT IS A STANDARD
4-LEGGED STEEL STRUCTURE WITH A GLASS-ENCLOSED CAGE AT THE TOP AND
IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE VERMONT STATE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSERVATION. THIS STATION WAS NOT VISITED.