ALMA HILL
Allegany County
Alma Hill – elev. 2548’
The structure on Alma is an 80’ Aermotor LS40 tower that was erected by the Conservation Department in 1950. In addition to the tower, a 1941 model observer’s cabin was constructed at the same time.
This tower is one of the few remaining New York State towers to bear a manufacturers tag located on one of the legs. It reads “Aermotor Co. – Chicago Ill.”
Alma tower was never staffed according to the tower reports in the Conservation Reports to the Legislature, which ended on 1965. A lot of towers that were built around 1950 were never properly funded. They were staffed sporadically and only during times of high fire danger by other Lands and forests personnel.
With the advent of aerial detection, the tower was “officially” closed at the end of the 1971 season and later offered for sale at public auction in 1973. (JJE). The high bidder was the landowner on whose land the tower stood. The tower still remains on lands now owned by Dennis Durham and is in “great shape” as reported by Paul Laskey during a recent visit in 2002. (PL)
The structure on Alma is an 80’ Aermotor LS40 tower that was erected by the Conservation Department in 1950. In addition to the tower, a 1941 model observer’s cabin was constructed at the same time.
This tower is one of the few remaining New York State towers to bear a manufacturers tag located on one of the legs. It reads “Aermotor Co. – Chicago Ill.”
Alma tower was never staffed according to the tower reports in the Conservation Reports to the Legislature, which ended on 1965. A lot of towers that were built around 1950 were never properly funded. They were staffed sporadically and only during times of high fire danger by other Lands and forests personnel.
With the advent of aerial detection, the tower was “officially” closed at the end of the 1971 season and later offered for sale at public auction in 1973. (JJE). The high bidder was the landowner on whose land the tower stood. The tower still remains on lands now owned by Dennis Durham and is in “great shape” as reported by Paul Laskey during a recent visit in 2002. (PL)
This section courtesy: Paul Hartmann
DESIGNATION - ALMA LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - NC0972
STATE/COUNTY- NY/ALLEGANY
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - ALLENTOWN (1976)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1964 (CFK)
THE STATION IS THE CENTER OF THE TOP OF THE TOWER LOCATED NEAR
THE HIGHEST POINT OF ALMA HILL. IT IS ABOUT 3-1/2 MILES NORTHEAST
OF THE VILLAGE OF ALMA, 3-1/2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ALLENTOWN, AND
6-1/4 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF WELLSVILLE. IT IS AN ABANDONED,
FOUR-LEGGED SELF-SUPPORTED STEEL TOWER WITHOUT AN OBSERVATION
CABIN AT THE TOP. ITS OVERALL HEIGHT IS APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET.
TO REACH THE STATION FROM THE POST OFFICE IN THE VILLAGE OF
ALMA, GO EAST ON THE PAVED ROAD FOR 0.1 MILE TO A SIDE ROAD
LEFT. CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD (E) FOR 0.3 MILE TO ANOTHER SIDE
ROAD LEFT (ALMA HILL ROAD). TURN LEFT ON ALMA HILL ROAD AND GO
NORTH AND EAST FOR 4.0 MILES TO A TRACK ROAD LEFT. TURN LEFT
AND GO WEST FOR 0.1 MILE TO AN OIL WELL CABLE. CONTINUE WEST
AND NORTH ON THE MTR FOR 0.15 MILE TO THE STATION.
STATION RECOVERY (2003)
RECOVERY NOTE BY US POWER SQUADRON 2003 (SG)
SINCE 1964 STATION DESCRIPTION, AN OBSERVATION CABIN WAS ADDED TO THE
TOWER.