BELLE AYRE
Ulster County
May 1909: A 65 foot steel tower was established as a lookout station at a cost of $362.50. The tower had been used as an observation tower by a previous owner. (Sixteenth Annual Report of the Forest, Fish and Game Commission - 1910)
April 23, 1914: "The conservation commission announces the following appointment: District No. 5--Belleayre Mountain, Charles Y. Parsons, Pine Hill." (The Kingston Daily Freeman)
April 23, 1914: "The conservation commission announces the following appointment: District No. 5--Belleayre Mountain, Charles Y. Parsons, Pine Hill." (The Kingston Daily Freeman)
November 7, 1930: "Frank Mead of Dunraven has just completed a new steel fire tower on Belle Ayre mountain. The new tower is 73 feet high and is the highest in this section of the state." (Catskill Mountain News)
1930: "The tower built at Belle Ayre Mountain is to replace an old wind mill tower that has long been in service there. The station has been relocated to afford protection to a greater area than was given by the original structure." A new cabin for the observer's living quarters was constructed. (Twentieth Annual Report of the Conservation Department - 1930)
July 1933: "In line with the State conservation department's policy of securing as rapidly as they can be obtained at reasonable prices the lands upon which forest-fire observation stations are located, a 1/2 acre tract in the town of Moriah, Essex County, in the Adirondack section, has been acquired. The Belfry Mountain State fire observation station is located on this area. A 12-foot right of way from the public highway to the station is included in the purchase." (The Forest Worker)
January 3, 1936: “At Pine Hill the objective of all skiers will be the Belle Ayre run built and maintained by the department which starts at the fire tower on the summit of the mountain and ends in Pine Hill village.” (Catskill Mountain News)
October 16, 1936: "Around fifty people, home-town folks and city guests hiked to Belle Ayre Mountain to visit the fire tower on Sunday. The day was clear. The hikers were awarded with a most beautiful view of our mountain tops and peaceful valleys clothed in a gorgeous blanket of autumn colors. Walton Persons, who is in charge of the tower informed us that the register now boasts the total of fifteen hundred visitors in 1936.--Pine Hill Cor." (Catskill Mountain News)
April 17, 1942: “Walter Persons has returned and is resuming his duties at the Belleayre mountain fire tower.” (Catskill Mountain News)
May 1, 1942: “Harry Krom of Phoenicia has taken the position at the Belleayre fire tower.” (Catskill Mountain News)
July 8, 1949: "Harold Persons of Pine Hill was named as a foreman of work clearing woods and fields at the site of the new chair lift on Belle Ayre mountain. Work began Tuesday.
Persons is the son of Charles Persons, who was the first observer appointed to the Belle Ayre fire tower more than 40 years ago. The elder Persons served on that post until his retirement after 21 years of service. Another son, Walton, then held the post for the next 14 years, until he, too, was retired a few years ago." (Catskill Mountain News)
July 21, 1950: “Woodland trails lead in many directions. It is just about a mile to the Belleayre fire tower, the elevation of which is 3,374, and from which you can get a panorama view of a large area. There are two leantos located at Cathedral Glen and below the fire tower for any hikers who wish to spend the night on the mountainside. Each will accommodate six people comfortably.” (Catskill Mountain News)
July 21, 1950: “Woodland trails lead in many directions. It is just about a mile to the Belleayre fire tower, the elevation of which is 3,374, and from which you can get a panorama view of a large area. There are two leantos located at Cathedral Glen and below the fire tower for any hikers who wish to spend the night on the mountainside. Each will accommodate six people comfortably.” (Catskill Mountain News)
May 15, 1953: “William Knigge will begin his duty as fire observer at the Belleayre mt. Fire tower May 16.” (Catskill Mountain News)
November 28, 1963: "Walton Persons, 73, a forest fire observer, died at the home of his daughter in Esopus midnight Sunday after several months' illness.
For 12 years Mr. Persons, employed by the Conservation Department, was observer at the Belleayre fire tower. He was transferred later to Lake Mohonk." (Catskill Mountain News)
May 21, 1964: "Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Eignor have moved to the Belleayre fire tower for the summer. He is observer." (Catskill Mountain News)
1985: The tower was damaged by vandalism, declared unsafe and torn down.