BEAR MOUNTAIN
(and PERKINS MEMORIAL TOWER)
Orange County
Orange County
March 28, 1929: "The view from the top of Bear Mountain, 1305 feet above the Hudson, and recently extended eighty feet higher by the erection of a steel fire observation tower, is one that no visitor to the park who enjoys walking and climbing should miss." (The Rockland County Leader)
November 1, 1934: "George W. Perkins Memorial Drive, winding its way 1,300 feet skyward over the rugged face of Bear Mountain, was thrown open to the public yesterday afternoon after two years of planning and building by relief workers and park officials. The drive, just a trifle less than five miles in length, mounts from Popolopen Drive to the very topmost crest of the towering sentinel of the great playground that is known as Bear Mountain Park, and then winds down the southern side of the mountain to join the Seven Lakes Drive just west of the playfield.
At the summit is a huge stone observatory, fashioned from rock quarried by hand from the mountain itself, from which an unobstructed view north, east, south and west as far as the eye can see is laid before those who will take the trouble to look and enjoy one of natures great masterpieces. Far below to the east lies the Hudson River, like a great silver ribbon, with the hills of Putnam and Westchester Counties in the background and fading away to the more gentle roll of the Connecticut ridges."
(Below a photo of the tower): "The George W. Perkins Memorial Tower, rising some sixty feet above the summit of Bear Mountain, a monument to the first president of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, which was dedicated yesterday afternoon. It will serve not only as an observatory, but as a lookout tower for fire wardens and a U.S. Weather Bureau station." (Middletown Times Herald)
DESIGNATION - BEAR MTN FOREST RANGERS TOWER
PID - LY2511
STATE/COUNTY- NY/ORANGE
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - POPOLOPEN LAKE (1981)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1932 (CAE)
STATION IS THE STEEL FRAME FOREST RANGERS TOWER ON THE HIGHEST
POINT OF BEAR MOUNTAIN. STRUCTURE IS ABOUT 65 FEET HIGH AND IS
PROMINENTLY SEEN FOR MILES AROUND.
TRIANGULATION STATION BEAR STANDS 10 METERS FROM THE CENTER OF
THIS TOWER.
STATION RECOVERY (2005)
RECOVERY NOTE BY GEOCACHING 2005 (PR)
THE FOREST RANGERS TOWER WAS REMOVED PRIOR TO 1965.