BALSAM LAKE MOUNTAIN
New York - Ulster County
May 1909: A lookout was established atop a 35 foot tower at a cost of $38.46. (Sixteenth Annual Report of the Forest, Fish and Game Commission - 1910)
May 10, 1912: "Walter Kittle begun his duties Monday as watchman on the Balsam Fire Tower." (Catskill Mountain News)
1918: A new cabin was built for the accommodation of the observer, where the old camp had become unfit for further use. (8th Annual Report of the Conservation Commission)
1920: A steel tower was erected. (9th Annual report of the Conservation Commission)
May 5, 1922: "Saw New Kingston fire. Balsam Mountain towerman has eyes like a hawk.
We think the fire patrol in charge of tower on Balsam Mountain deserves special mention for at that distance he spotted a pasture brush fire on the Winter Hollow road and reported same to fire warden at Arkville, who in turn telephoned here." (Catskill Mountain News)
May 2, 1924: "The fire tower on the top of Balsam Mountain again demonstrated its success fulness on Tuesday when the watchman sighted a fire at a point where the towns of Hamden and Delhi join.
The watchman notified Forest Supervisor Todd at Arkville who called the Hamden authorities on the phone and the Supervisor ordered out men to fight the fire. By nightfall it was subdued and the loss was not great." (Catskill Mountain News)
April 2, 1943: "Towermen are preparing to man the fire tower stations on the mountain tops to watch for spring fires. When the Balsam tower is in operation in charge of Mike Todd, the Dry Brook plane spotter station will be discontinued until the tower is abandoned in the fall." (Catskill Mountain News)
April 5, 1946: "Mike Todd, well-known mountain man, watch on Balsam fire tower, makes a spring visit to the tower each year on the Sunday nearest April 1. He went there last Sunday and found no snow.
In former years the snow has been deep on this date. A year ago conditions were about the same. But four or five years ago, Mike is not certain which year, the snow on his first trip was even with the tops of the poles which carry the telephone wire to the tower." (Catskill Mountain News)
June 30, 1950: “Gus Stewart, experienced woodsman, watchman at the Balsam mountain fire tower, had an adventure Wednesday morning which startled him and became an event to remember.
He came down from his perch 100 feet above the ground in the fire tower to secure a drink of water at the tower spring some distance away. Walking quietly along the path to the spring Mr. Stewart was surprised to see a huge bear about 30 feet from the water hole standing upright against a tree. Mr. Stewart is accustomed to seeing bears and the surprise was the size of the one standing upright. He affirms it would have weighed at least 500 pounds.
Another thing of interest in the encounter was that the tree against which the big fellow was standing, one paw outstretched against it to hold himself steady, was that the tree was well covered with trail markers. Every appearance was that the big fellow was endeavoring to read the markers. If Mr. Stewart had been equipped with a camera it would have so recorded the encounter.
Mr. Stewart watched until the bear got back on all fours and wandered away. Gus was thankful the bear was looking for directions and not for breakfast.
Catskill mountain bears often tear signs from trees. They seem to disapprove the desecration of the forests. The bear of this encounter may have had this in mind but deferred the job Wednesday until a later time. (Catskill Mountain News)
He came down from his perch 100 feet above the ground in the fire tower to secure a drink of water at the tower spring some distance away. Walking quietly along the path to the spring Mr. Stewart was surprised to see a huge bear about 30 feet from the water hole standing upright against a tree. Mr. Stewart is accustomed to seeing bears and the surprise was the size of the one standing upright. He affirms it would have weighed at least 500 pounds.
Another thing of interest in the encounter was that the tree against which the big fellow was standing, one paw outstretched against it to hold himself steady, was that the tree was well covered with trail markers. Every appearance was that the big fellow was endeavoring to read the markers. If Mr. Stewart had been equipped with a camera it would have so recorded the encounter.
Mr. Stewart watched until the bear got back on all fours and wandered away. Gus was thankful the bear was looking for directions and not for breakfast.
Catskill mountain bears often tear signs from trees. They seem to disapprove the desecration of the forests. The bear of this encounter may have had this in mind but deferred the job Wednesday until a later time. (Catskill Mountain News)
October 9, 1953: “Gus Stewart, fire tower watcher 100 feet above Balsam's highest knob, is a terrific Dodger fan. Fire tower watching this summer has been steady job with the drouth making the forest a tender box. Gus has a radio. He has listened to all the games while watching for rising columns of smoke. To space the radio, help sooth the result of the world series, Gus turned to poetry.” (Catskill Mountain News)
May 3, 1957: "The Balsam mountain fire tower was struck by lightning and heavily damaged during Saturday night's storm, but the caretaker was not present," (Catskill Mountain News)
October 21, 1960: "The 71st birthday of Gus Stewart was observed Friday evening.
Larry Baker, fire warden at the Balsam fire tower, entertained the group by showing colored slides taken at the tower. Mr. Stewart had served as warden at the tower from 1949 until 1957. (Catskill Mountain News)
October 21, 1960: "The 71st birthday of Gus Stewart was observed Friday evening.
Larry Baker, fire warden at the Balsam fire tower, entertained the group by showing colored slides taken at the tower. Mr. Stewart had served as warden at the tower from 1949 until 1957. (Catskill Mountain News)
DESIGNATION - BALSAM LAKE MOUNTAIN FIRE TWR
PID - NA2071
STATE/COUNTY- NY/ULSTER
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - SEAGER (1981)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1940 (RJS)
A NEW YORK CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT FIRE TOWER LOCATED ON THE TOP
OF BALSAM LAKE MOUNTAIN, ABOUT 23 METERS SOUTH OF TRIANGULATION
STATION BALSAM. IT IS IN HARDINBURG TOWNSHIP ABOUT 7-1/2 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF MARGARETVILLE.