NEW YORK LOOKOUTS
LOON LAKE MOUNTAIN
Franklin County
1912: The Conservation Commission established a lookout station at this point. (Second Annual Report of the Conservation Commission)
May 24, 1913: "The conservation commissioner yesterday announced this appointment: Fire observer at Loon Lake Mountain, James Quirk, of Sugar Bush." (The Post-Star)
1917: A 35-foot steel tower was erected. (7th Annual Report of the Conservation Commission)
July 1, 1925: "District Forest Ranger James H. Hopkins received a telephone report this afternoon from the fire observer on Loon Lake mountain, in the adirondacks, that a violent snow squall was raging at that point." (Buffalo Courier)
March 16, 1928: "Charles Williams of Inman has reported to District Ranger James H. Hopkins that during the blizzard which raged for several hours last Friday the fire tower on Loon Lake mountain was crashed by the gale.
The tower was of steel and thought strong enough to withstand any gale, its base being embedded in concrete. It was one of the last towers to be erected on an Adirondack peak. It will be replaced in the spring." (Essex County Republican)
March 29, 1928: "During the heavy windstorm that tore over the mountain peaks several days ago, a lookout tower erected last spring by the state on Loon Lake Mountain was blown down and wrecked. No attempt will be made to repair the damage until this spring. The observer was not in the tower at the time it was blown over although he remained in it until until only a day or two before the gale struck it. He had constructed a lean-to near the base of the tower and when the latter fell it crashed through the roof of this, destroying it. The tower was similar to those the state conservation department has placed on virtually all of the larger mountain peaks to aid in the detection of forest fires. Observers are stationed in the towers during the fall. The towers are of steel and represent an outlay of several thousand dollars." (Massena Observer)
June 7, 1934: "Charles Williams, for nine years fire observer on Loon Lake mountain, was found dead on the trail between his cabin and the top of the mountain last Sunday afternoon, death being due according to the examining physician to an attack of acute dilation of the heart. Several attempts were made by Thomas Derby, fire warden, to reach Williams by telephone, but without success. He finally reported his failure to Supervisor Albert Paye at Loon Lake station, who sent William and Albert Williams in search of their missing brother. They found his cabin in proper condition and continued along the trail toward the top of the mountain. About half way up the trail they came upon the body lying face downward. Mr. Williams was born at Alder Brook August 10, 1880, and spent practically all his life in the vicinity of Loon Lake. He had been a fire warden for many years and was appointed at the Loon Lake fire tower in 1925. His funeral was held last Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock." (Adirondack Record-Elizabethtown Post)