PENNSYLVANIA LOOKOUTS
McDADE
McKean County
October 20, 1921: "Due to a suggestion published in The Republican a few weeks ago the Kane Business Men's Association took up the matter of having one of the fire towers which are being erected throughout the wooded portion of the state located in the vicinity of Kane, and there now is little doubt but that one of the towers, 60 feet in height, will be sent to this locality.
At present the state has no more of the towers, which are constructed from structural steel parts, on hand, the quota for the fall season having been distributed and erected. However, an official of the forestry department has lookout over this territory and assured a committee from the business men's organization that a tower will be sent to Kane providing that funds can be secured to build the concrete base necessary for the structure and pay the labor cost of placing the tower in position. This will amount to about $350, and is understood that no trouble will be had in furnishing that amount.--Kane Republican, Tuesday." (McKean Democrat)
At present the state has no more of the towers, which are constructed from structural steel parts, on hand, the quota for the fall season having been distributed and erected. However, an official of the forestry department has lookout over this territory and assured a committee from the business men's organization that a tower will be sent to Kane providing that funds can be secured to build the concrete base necessary for the structure and pay the labor cost of placing the tower in position. This will amount to about $350, and is understood that no trouble will be had in furnishing that amount.--Kane Republican, Tuesday." (McKean Democrat)
January 12, 1922: "The Pennsylvania forestry department may erect additional fire observation towers next spring. Fifty of the huge towers were placed in position last fall and linked by telephones as the primary fire protection system of the state.
Suggestions have been made by Geo. H. Wirt, chief fire warden of the department, that towers be placed at Kane, McKean county, and Catawissa, Columbia county. Both suggestions are viewed favorably." (McKean Democrat)
April 5, 1922: "Oil and gas well owners in the Kane district have agreed to erect and assist in telephonic equipment of a forest fire observation tower in the southern part of McKean county and the state forestry department will furnish a steel tower. The producers will also help pay the salary of the observer." (The Altoona Mirror)
April 6, 1922: "The Pennsylvania Department of Forestry will erect a sixty-foot steel tower forest fire observation tower in the western part of the Susquehannock Forest District this spring. The tower will be put up on the F.L. Johnson farm, a few miles northeast of Kane, and it will give much needed protection to the forest lands in the southern part of McKean county." (McKean Democrat)
February 16, 1923: "The Department of Forestry, in cooperation with a number of oil, gas and timberland owners, has nearly completed plans for the erection of a sixty-foot steel forest fire observation tower to detect fires in the southwestern part of McKean county. The tower will be located on the H.C. McDade farm, a few miles northeast of Kane, along the state highway. This tower will fill a long felt want, and will be of material value in preventing destruction of young timber and oil and gas properties.
The tower will be connected by telephone in order that the observer, who will be on duty during all periods of fire danger, may notify the fire wardens nearest the scene of the fire.
The proposed site was first inspected by District Forester Harold F. Port of Coudersport, Pa., and later approved by George H. Wirt, chief forest fire warden of the state." (Bedford Era)
February 22, 1923: "The Department of Forestry in cooperation with a number of oil, gas and timberland owners, has nearly completed plans for the erection of a sixty-foot steel forest fire observation tower to detect fires in the southwestern part of McKean county. The tower will be located on the H.C. McDade farm, a few miles northeast of Kane, along the state highway. This tower will fill a long felt want, and will be of material value in preventing destruction of young timber and oil and gas properties.
The tower will be connected by telephone in order that the observer, who will be on duty during all periods of fire danger, may notify the fire wardens nearest the scene of the fire.
The proposed site was first inspected by District Forester Harold F. Port of Coudersport, Pa., and later approved by George H. Wirt, chief forest fire warden of the state." (McKean Democrat)
August 16, 1923: "The general interest manifested in forest conservation is indicated in the proposal made by northwestern timberland owners to defray the cost of erecting a steel fire observation tower which the department of forests and waters has purchased for a site near Kane. The department, because of the general curtailment of appropriation funds, has no money to spend this year in completing its tower program." (McKean Democrat)
September 22, 1923: "The State Forestry Department has commenced work on the erection of a 60-foot steel fire tower on the McDade farm, near here. The tower, which will be an addition to the net work of towers through the forest lands of the state, is the only one in McKean county. A ranger will be kept in the tower constantly during the forest fire season and will have telephone communication with all other towers and towns in the surrounding territory." (Bedford Era)
September 27, 1923: "Kane is finally to have its fire tower after two years of waiting. Actual work on the concrete foundation for the tower was started at the McDade farm two miles from Kane, this morning. H.E. Elliott of Coudersport, forester of the Susquehanna district, has the supervision of the work as his duty.
The tower will be of steel, 60 feet in height, set upon a concrete foundation. It will be located on a hillock on the McDade farm, an extremely elevated point, and a view of a radius of at least 26 miles is possible from that point under average weather condition, while with powerful observation glasses under extra favorable conditions a much wider view can be obtained.
This is the first fire tower to be erected in McKean county and the radius of observation from its peak will connect with the territory watched from a tower in Elk county. The steel for the structure, it is understood, is furnished by the state and transported to the grounds, but the cost of foundation and erecting the tower is attended to by public subscription, is the report." (McKean Democrat)
April 28, 1924: "The fire tower on the McDade farm attracted many visitors yesterday. It was a clear day and a magnificent view could be obtained from the top of the tower which is one of the highest points in the state." (The Kane Republican)
April 19, 1928: "Deputy Sheriff William Gold recently stated that he has received a complaint from the forest ranger in charge of the McDade fire tower, on Mt. Jewett road near here, stating that the phone line running out of the place has been put out of commission several times by youths who climb the tower in his absence and slide horseshoes down the wire, wrecking it. The authorities believe that the youths have not realized the seriousness of their offense in rendering the tower useless in reporting fires, and state that if the mischief does not cease, prosecutions will follow.--Kane Republican."(McKean Democrat)
April 21, 1932: "The first forest fire of the season was reported from the McDade fire tower east of here this morning at 11:15 o'clock.
Fire Warden LeRoy Horton, on duty at the tower, discovered a blaze believed to be of sizable proportions in the Cook Forest area, southwest of Kane." (McKean County Democrat)
May 26, 1932: "The observers in the State forest fire towers on Prospect Hill. Near Smethport, at the McDade Farm, near Kane, and at the new tower near Bradford—all in McKean county—have performed good work this spring in quickly spotting incipient forest fires and time to stop serious damage to the woods.
One day recently the observer at the McDade tower discovered a forest fire near Altoona, 125 miles away." (McKean County Democrat
November 2, 1944: "Local firemen today are wondering what next when they were called out by a blaze of undetermined origin which destroyed the cabin and equipment atop the 60-foot McDade fire tower two miles east of Kane on Route 6.
The fire was discovered by employees of the Ideal Farms who climbed the tower but found the cabin locked. I.G. Bailey, state fire warden in charge of the tower, was last seen in the place two days ago.
In addition to damage to the tower which is one of the key links in a state chain through the region, maps and other equipment were destroyed. The place was in flames when the fire department arrived and nothing was saved.
Reports this afternoon indicated immediate steps would be taken to rebuild the tower which is vitally important to the spotting system in the half-million acre Allegany National Forest." (McKean County Democrat)
Removed
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National Geodetic Survey |
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DESIGNATION - MCDADE
PID - MA2351
STATE/COUNTY- PA/MCKEAN
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - KANE (1977)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1964
STATION IS ABOUT 0.2 MILE N OF KANE-MT. JEWETT ROAD, ON LAND OF
MCDADE ESTATE, ABOUT 500 FEET NE OF BARN, 200 FEET W OF N-S LANE,
25 FEET S OF E-W FENCE, AT STATE DEPT. OF FORESTS AND WATERS 60-FOOT
STEEL FIRE TOWER, CENTERED UNDER MCDADE FIRE TOWER. MARK IS IN
6 BY 8-INCH SANDSTONE, A USGS STANDARD TRIANGULATION STATION TABLET
DESIGNATED MCDADE 1926 1938.
AIRLINE DISTANCE AND DIRECTION FROM NEAREST TOWN - ABOUT 2.0 MI E OF
KANE.
PID - MA2351
STATE/COUNTY- PA/MCKEAN
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - KANE (1977)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1964
STATION IS ABOUT 0.2 MILE N OF KANE-MT. JEWETT ROAD, ON LAND OF
MCDADE ESTATE, ABOUT 500 FEET NE OF BARN, 200 FEET W OF N-S LANE,
25 FEET S OF E-W FENCE, AT STATE DEPT. OF FORESTS AND WATERS 60-FOOT
STEEL FIRE TOWER, CENTERED UNDER MCDADE FIRE TOWER. MARK IS IN
6 BY 8-INCH SANDSTONE, A USGS STANDARD TRIANGULATION STATION TABLET
DESIGNATED MCDADE 1926 1938.
AIRLINE DISTANCE AND DIRECTION FROM NEAREST TOWN - ABOUT 2.0 MI E OF
KANE.
