CASTOR HILL
Oswego County
September 12, 1929: “A nearby point of interest which a great many local residents have yet to visit is the state fire tower near Greenboro. Although the tower is not reached by an improved highway, the road is in good condition and the distance is convenient for a Sunday afternoon drive.
The tower, which is of steel construction, is ninety feet high and is said to be the highest in the state, the usual heighth of fire towers erected by the state being seventy feet. The small room at the top is reached by twelve flights of stairs, well guarded by double rails. Here Nelson Clifford presides, his kindly hospitality making all who visit the tower feel most welcome. Mr. Clifford for many years kept the Cottrell House at Greenboro, a favorite stopping place for hunters and fishermen. He has lived all his life in that vicinity and thoroughly knows the woods about the region, having guided hunting parties for many years. He is also a famous bear hunter.
In the center of the room at the top of the tower is a map of the surrounding territory. A book is kept in which visitors to the tower are requested to write their names. A telephone is installed for the convenience of the warden in reporting fires. Mr. Clifford said that he had found only two small blazes this summer. The room is lined with windows from which a wonderful view of the country can be obtained. Dense forests stretch in every direction, as far as the eye can reach and on the horizon may be seen the hills of Redfield and Orwell. Lake Ontario is not visible, being so much lower that it is hidden by the forests west of the tower.” (Sandy Creek News)
The tower, which is of steel construction, is ninety feet high and is said to be the highest in the state, the usual heighth of fire towers erected by the state being seventy feet. The small room at the top is reached by twelve flights of stairs, well guarded by double rails. Here Nelson Clifford presides, his kindly hospitality making all who visit the tower feel most welcome. Mr. Clifford for many years kept the Cottrell House at Greenboro, a favorite stopping place for hunters and fishermen. He has lived all his life in that vicinity and thoroughly knows the woods about the region, having guided hunting parties for many years. He is also a famous bear hunter.
In the center of the room at the top of the tower is a map of the surrounding territory. A book is kept in which visitors to the tower are requested to write their names. A telephone is installed for the convenience of the warden in reporting fires. Mr. Clifford said that he had found only two small blazes this summer. The room is lined with windows from which a wonderful view of the country can be obtained. Dense forests stretch in every direction, as far as the eye can reach and on the horizon may be seen the hills of Redfield and Orwell. Lake Ontario is not visible, being so much lower that it is hidden by the forests west of the tower.” (Sandy Creek News)
October 16, 1930: "If you want to see a beautiful sight visit the Castor Hill Fire Tower. Everybody is welcome. Our observer, Melvin Clemons, knows the woods from A to Z, so will gladly tell you the interesting points. One hundred and two people visited the tower on the twelfth of this month." (Sand Creek News)
October 8, 1931: “New living quarters for Fire Warden Melvin Clemons of the Castor Hill fire station are being constructed by the state near the fire lookout in the northern part of the town of Redfield. Quarters are also being constructed for a forest ranger, who is expected at the station some time this fall. The work is being done under direction of Chief Fire Warden E.P. Blue of Poland, Fire Warden Clemons is stationed at the Castor Hill lookout during the spring, summer and fall, the station being unoccupied during the winter.” (Sandy Creek News)
October 7, 1933: "Richard Potter, Mrs. Amelia Potter, Mr. and Mrs. M.J. Weed visited the fire observation tower at Castor Hill, Sunday. The trees in that section are gorgeous as a result of the frosts. New quarters have been constructed by the state, near the lookout, for a forest ranger, who is expected at the station some time this fall." (Pulaski Democrat)
September 6, 1934: “The road from the Boylston town line is liable to be entirely closed at any time now so anyone wishing to visit the Castor Hill fire tower will be safer to detour by Redfield.” (Sandy Creek News)
April 23, 1936: “Melvin Clemons, observer, has opened the Caster Hill Fire Tower for the season.” The 20 years ago column. (Sandy Creek News)
October 8, 1936: "Melvin Clemons, veteran woodsman, who acts as state fire observer at the Castor Hill fire tower reports that the autumn coloring will reach its greatest within the next few days. Located on a ridge nearly 1800 feet above sea level, the tower is 96 feet high and overlooks portions of Jefferson, Oswego, Oneida and Lewis counties. Oneida Lake is visible on a clear day, but Lake Ontario is hidden by the hills near Smartville." (Pulaski Democrat)
July 29, 1937: “Observer Melvin Clemons at the Castor Hill Fire Tower, reports he is having many visitors there this season. About one-hundred visited the tower Sunday.” (Sandy Creek News)
August 2, 1937: "Workers on the road that is being cut through dense woods above John Allen's, to the fire tower over near Mad River Club House say the road now extends one and one-half miles in from Allen's. Loads of veterans are working on it every day." (Sandy Creek News)
October 14, 1937: “The forest is very pretty now since the trees have changed colors and there is a very pretty view from the Castor Hill fire tower where the public is very cordially invited to visit at any time.” (Sandy Creek News)
November 3, 1943: “Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Bush and family who have spent the summer on Castor Hill at the fire tower, now have completed their work there and have moved back in this vicinity for the winter.” (Sandy Creek News)
May 8, 1947: “Funeral services for Alfred Bush, 56, former supervisor of the town of Boylston who died May 4, 1947 in Onondaga general Hospital in Syracuse after a long illness were held Tuesday at the Foster Funeral Home in Pulaski. Interment was in Wesleyan cemetery, Lacona.
He was formerly fire warden at the Castor Hill fire tower. Mr. Bush was a veteran of World War I.” (Sandy Creek News)
May 6, 1948: “George Brennan, observer at the Castor Hill fire tower has located several fires the past week.
Forest Ranger George Yerdon and fire wardens have been busy looking after the fires. They find many of them are brush fires where people are cleaning up.” (Sandy Creek News)
April 17, 1952: “George Brennan has resumed his duties at the Castor Hill fire tower.” (Sandy Creek News)
April 29, 1954: “George Brennan has resumed his work at the 'Caster Hill' fire tower.” (Sandy Creek News)
May 3, 1956: “George Brennan of Boylston, who for many years has been watchman at the fire tower on the Mad River has retired. John Brennan is replacing his brother.” (Sandy Creek News)
May 28, 1959: "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kastler have been fixing up the cabin at the Fire Tower and living there some." (Sandy Creek News)
April 28, 1960: "Fred Kastler has resumed his work as observer at the Castor Hill Fire Tower." (Sandy Creek News)
June 9, 1960: "Fred Kastler, observer at the Castor Hill Fire tower wishes to let the public know that Geo. Sager has sold his property surrounding the tower and that the public is welcome." (Sandy Creek News)
October 19, 1967: “Den 3, Mrs. William Hoag, Den Mother, visited Caster Hill fire tower Monday afternoon. George Yerdon, fire observer, gave a talk to the Cubs.” (Sandy Creek News)
October 31, 1968: "Third graders from the Richland school, with their teacher Mrs. Betty Van Ry, had an outting Wednesday, Oct. 23 when they visited the Castor Hill Fire Tower, to further supplement their study of forestry and to better understand the duties of forest rangers.
They climbed the 90 ft. fire tower to talk with Ranger Yerdon, who showed them how he locates a forest fire, and explained what happens when a fire develops. Each student looked over the forest with the ranger's field glasses, and signed his name in the record book.
The class would like to thank Ranger Yerdon for answering all their questions and devoting his time to their study." (Pulaski Democrat)
June 9, 1976: "Emma J. Clemons, 83, Bakers Mills, widow of Melvin Clemons of Redfield and Sandy Creek, died Thursday June 3. She was married to Melvin Clemons at Sandy Creek, November 18, 1907.
Mr. Clemons was a fire observer at the Castor Hill fire tower in the Town of Redfield. He died in 1939." (Sandy Creek News)
October 27, 1982: “Allen Yerdon, 80, of Redfield RD, died Tuesday, October 19 at Mercy Hospital in Watertown after a long illness.
Mr. Yerdon lived here all his life. He was a woodsman and was employed as an observer at the Castor Hill Fire Tower in Redfield before retiring in 1971.” (Sandy Creek News)
December 29, 1982: "The Mad River Club was successful in their bidding for the fire tower on the Little John Drive, which was recently offered for sale by the State of New York.
The Board of Directors of the Mad River Club authorized the bid, and future plans call for the fire tower to be removed from its present location and re-established in part on the Mad River clubhouse grounds east of Lacona, New York.
It's the intention of the Board of Directors to utilize part of the fire tower on their grounds. The balance will be given to a not-for-profit organization as an observation platform for areas along the shores of Lake Ontario, for the purpose of birdwatching.
At a future date, the organization to whom part of the tower is given will be announced.
The ranger's cabin, located at the base of the tower, was also awarded to a member of the Mad River Club and will be erected in another location." (Pulaski Democrat)
July 20, 1983: "DEAR EDITOR: I wish to thank the many people who've called and written to me in connection with the disappearance of the Fire Tower on Little John Drive, Northern Oswego County, but the Mad River Club decided to sell the tower.
There is, however, a series of letters which I'll release which deals with some of the aspects of scientific experiments which transpired, over a period of years, from the fire tower which, in turn, had a direct effect upon the nation's rocket programs.
One letter from Bob Munson of Mexico, however, deserves note. His listing of the operators is as follows:
1. Nett Clifford
2. The son of Melvin Clemons
3. George Brennan
4 John Brennan
5 George Yerdon
I'm sure some of these operators are still living and could relate their experience to anyone who is interested." (Sandy Creek News)