NEW YORK LOOKOUTS
BALD MOUNTAIN
Lewis County
1918: A 47-foot steel tower was purchased. (8th Annual Report of the Conservation Commission)
1919: The erection of the tower completed.
May 25, 1922: "In Old Forge there lives a man named Coon Briggs, who served many years in the capacity of fire observer on Bald mountain. He served so long on the mountain that he was considered by many to be a fixture and he evidently got to thinking so himself, which is a mighty dangerous thing for any public servant. Briggs has been relieved from duty and he says he suspects that he has been banished from the service because he did not show as much courtesy as he might have done in answering the questions of tourists who visited the mountain.
His suspicions appear to be correct for Superintendent of Forests Pettis has issued a statement in which he indicates that the employes of the state are required to display reasonable courtesy toward the people by whom they are employed. Mr. Pettis said:
'Coon Briggs has been relieved on Bald mountain after three years of probation marked by repeated warnings from the commission that he must use more tact and courtesy with visitors to the conservation station.
More than 36,000 persons visited observation stations of the state last summer. Bald mountain ranks third in point of interest and number of sightseers that visit it. It is necessary that the man who represents the state in such a place be courteous and informative.
'Coon was neither, and we received constant complaint about his gruffness. We carried him for three years on sympathy and because we hoped he would mend his ways. But he did not and we were obliged to let him out.
'Strangers did not understand him, and that misunderstanding reflected on the state service. We regretted that the action was necessary, but it was in the best interest of the forest service.' " (The Post-Star)
August 10, 1933: "A forest fire near Wolf Pond, Herkimer county, just across the Lewis county line, was reported Sunday morning at 11:30. The fire was detected by Warden Bruce Ferris, who operates the fire tower on Bald Mountain, town of Croghan. He reported the fire to Ranger William Tanzer of Croghan and by 1 p.m. 25 men were on the fire area with provisions enough to last two days. The fire is thought to be on state land." (The Journal and Republican)
