SPRUCE MOUNTAIN
Vermont - Washington County - Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
February 13, 1919: "A second tower will be erected on Spruce Mountain in the town of Plainfield. Willard S. Martin, who is carrying on a pulp job in that vicinity at present, and Parker and Young, who recently purchased the T.N. Vail tract in the towns of Topsham, Orange and Groton, will be responsible for the erection of the tower at this point." (Burlington Weekly Free Press)
August 23, 1919: "State Forester Hastings is re-allotting the lookouts for prevention against fire and is making arrangements for a lookout to be placed on Spruce mountain in Orange. It is a very sightly place and one which is visited quite a good deal, so that two houses will be constructed. There is quite a lot of pulp cutting in that section and the work bids fair to need the protection of a fire warden for some years, so that more substantial buildings are being constructed than would be otherwise. He is gathering his information to install lookouts where a wide range of wood country can be seen. Probably one of the best that he has is the one on Burke mountain. In Essex county there are some 30 miles of telephone to be used in case fire breaks out and is discovered by the warden in the look out near Gallup mills." (The Caledonian-Record)
October 26, 1931: "The new forest fire lookout tower on Spruce mountain has been completed, it was announced today at the office of the forestry department. It is a glass enclosed tower 50 feet high, and replaces an old wooden platform. The new tower is much better adapted for lookout work, especially on windy days." (Montpelier Evening Argus)
October 30, 1931: "The new glass-in-closed lookout tower the State forest service has had built on Spruce Mountain in Plainfield has had many visitors already, although it is not entirely finished. The tower, built to replace an old wooden platform tower which was erected several years ago, is fifty feet in height and from it a wonderful view is obtained, from Jay peak near the Canadian boundary to Ludlow at the south. The main portion of the Green Mountain range is in full view and many of the White Mountains in New Hampshire." (The Burlington Free Press)
1931: "A fifty foot glass enclosed fire lookout tower was built on Spruce Mountain in Plainfield in the fall." (Biennial Report of the Commissioner of Forestry, ending 6/30/32)
June 1938: "Painted tower. Installed new fire detection map in tower. Razed old shack at tower site and graded around tower." (Fire Control Work, During period July 1, 1936, to June 30, 1938, "Report of the Department of Conservation and Development" State of Vermont)
1943: The steel tower with a 7x7 cab was moved from Bellevue Hill to replace an earlier timber tower with a wood cab.
August 3, 1943: "Edd Johnson is at Spruce mountain in Plainfield, assisting in building a new fire watch tower." (Montpelier Evening Argus)
1947-48: "New map supplied and installed. Tower stairs, landings and cab interior painted." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1949-50: "Relocation of 300 feet of telephone line. Repaired section of trail. Replaced trap door in tower. Put in new overhead line from cabin to tower. Painted stair treads and cabin floor. Replaced 4 windows in cabin. Installed new stove in cabin." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1951-52: "Tower stairs and cab painted inside and floor refinished." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1953-54: "Cabin stained two coats. Tower stairs and cab painted. One quarter mile of telephone line relocated. Line cleared of brush." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1957-58: "A start was made relocating and rebuilding the entire telephone line." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
September 21, 1959: "Seventeen hikers climbed Spruce Mountain near Plainfield Sunday under the leadership of Miss Wilda Gigee. The hike was staged by the Burlungton Section, Green Mountain Club.
The group was greeted on top by Mr. and Mrs. Neil Rogers. Rogers is fire tower ranger." (The Burlington Free Press)