BALD MOUNTAIN (TOWNSEND)
Vermont - Windham County - Townshend State Forest
1912: "A lookout station will probably be built on the summit of Bald Hill, which commands a splendid view of the whole southeastern part of the state." (4th Annual Report of the Vermont State Forester)
1913: "A watchman is employed at the lookout station on Bald Mountain in Townshend. This station consists of a cabin and telephone, but no tower was necessary." (5th Annual Report of the Vermont State Forester)
June 24, 1922: "Mr. Delavan remained in the southern part of the state for continued inspection of fire lookout stations. He is to make preliminary arrangements for a new lookout tower at Townshend, the old tower having outlived its usefulness." (The Burlington Free Press)
July 21, 1922: "Work on the new observation tower at the forestry lookout station on Bald mountain was completed some time ago and is proving an attraction to the lovers of mountain scenery in this section. W.R. Snyder, lookout watchman, reports that 20 people climbed the mountain to visit the lookout last week, which is a considerable increase over the usual number of summer visitors. Both state and government officials consider this one of the best lookouts in the state. During the 1921 season more forest fires were reported from this station than from any other of the 14 state mountain lookouts." (Vermont Phoenix)
September 20, 1922: "W.G. Hastings, state forester, has returned from an inspection trip in the southern part of the state on which he looked over the new lookout tower at Townshend." (The Barre Daily Times)
August 15, 1924: "There are three lookout stations in Windham county and one in Bennington county. Those in Windham county are on Ball mountain in Townshend, elevation 2,100 feet, from which on a clear day Boston harbor may be seen and from which in 1921 and 1922 more fires were discovered than from any other lookout in the state.
The lookout in Townshend is manned only part time, because of a lack of funds. " (Vermont Phoenix)
c.1924: "New steel towers with stairs and glass enclosures have been constructed or are under construction at the following locations: - - Townsend." (3rd Biennial Report of the Commissioner of Forestry)
1932: "Repairs were made to the Townshend tower." (Biennial Report of the Forestry Commissioner, ending 6/30/32)
September 22, 1933: "Substantial progress has been made this week by the Civilian Conservation Corps group stationed in North Westminster, at the state forest in Townshend, where a one-story stone building for public use is to be erected where other improvements are being made, which include a steel tower to replace the wooden lookout Fire tower now standing." (The Brattleboro Reformer)
September 23, 1933: "In Townshend a road is to be built to the top of Bald mountain where the old state fire lookout tower will be replaced by one of steel." (Rutland Daily Herald)
1936: Members of the 119th Company CCC of Bellows Falls erected a steel forest fire tower on Bald Mountain, Townshend State Forest. (Report, Department of Conservation and Development, term ending June 30, 1936)
June 1938: "Constructed new metallic telephone line to tower. Installed lightning protection on lookout tower. Installed telephone instrument in tower. Razed old wooden tower. A garage and wood storage building has been completed." (Fire Control Work, During period July 1, 1936, to June 30, 1938, "Report of the Department of Conservation and Development" State of Vermont)
October 14, 1938: "Nathan Dauchy has been named to the lookout tower post on Bald Mountain in Townshend." (The Brattleboro Reformer)
October 12, 1944: "Mrs. Sarah Thayer celebrated her 88th birthday as she has celebrated her last 25--by climbing Bald Mountain to the lookout tower." (The Hayward Review)
1947-48: "Relocated short section of telephone line to make way for road construction." (Vermont Forest Service Biennial Report)
August 15, 1949: "The 50-foot steel tower on Bald Mountain in Townshend is being dismantled and will be set up next week on Mt. Olga. Built in 1934, the Bald Mountain tower has had only secondary use during periods of extreme forest fire hazard during the past few seasons. Its functions will be taken over by aircraft fire spotters in the future if that is necessary, Dauchy added. A crew headed by Fire Warden Cliff Davis of Townshend is doing the tower work." (The Newport Daily Express)
1949 - 1950: "Steel fire tower taken down, to be erected on Mt. Olga. Telephone line salvaged." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
Removed