MOUNT CUSHMAN
Vermont - Windsor County
1920: "In the spring of 1920 the Vermont Timberland Owners' Association, in cooperation with the Forestry Department, built a tower and cabin on Cushman Mountain." (History of Forestry in Vermont)
October 4, 1934: "Mt. Cushman will have a new fire tower. It is expected the new tower will be built very near the site of the old mountain house. It will be of steel construction and the platform will be 45 feet, 9 inches above the ground. The observation room, at top of the tower, will be of glass. The work is to be done by CCC boys." (The Bethel Courier)
December 21, 1934: "In the line of work projects a detail of men have recently started road construction work from Plymouth Union to Shrewbury where a similar detail from Camp No. 1219 will push the road through from that point. A detail from this company have just completed work on a fire tower on Cushing Mountain in the town of Rochester, Vt." (Springfield Reporter)
June 1938: "Installed map stand with fire detection map and alidade. Painted camp. Improved trail." (Fire Control Work, During period July 1, 1936, to June 30, 1938, "Report of the Department of Conservation and Development" State of Vermont)
April 3, 1946: "Will Stone, 63, who has been fire warden at the fire lookout tower on Mt. Cushman for 16 years, observed April 1 by beginning a new season.
Because of the dry grass and leaves, his arrival was a full month ahead of the date he normally begins his duties.
With only his radio and telephone to connect him with the outside world, he remains on the mountain until about November 1.
Though there is plenty of dry firewood at hand to heat the lookout cabin, drinking water and groceries present a bit more of a problem. Water must be brought from a spring a half mile away, while food is sent by parcel post once a week to the home of Russell Church and from there carried up the 'tin can trail,' about a mile and a half, by Russell Brown, a student at the village school." (Rutland Daily Herald)
1947 - 1948: "Stairs were painted. Repairs were made on the telephone line" (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
April 8, 1948: "Another definite sign that spring has come to stay was the scheduled opening yesterday of the forest fire lookout tower on Mt. Cushman and the return of the veteran watcher, Will Stone, to his lofty post in the sky.
Stone, who is known to scores of visitors to the lookout area, is beginning his 20th season as guardian of the woodlands, and is believed to be one of the oldest watchers in the state, from point of service." (White River Valley Herald)
1949 - 1950: "Stairs and cabin floor painted, new cap installed on tower. Cabin was refurnished with new cot, new stove, and dishes. Telephone line brushed." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1951 - 1952: "Tower stairs and cab painted. Line prepared for changing to dial system." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
July 25, 1952: "Visitors to the Mt. Cushman fire tower last Sunday report that Tug Vinton, the experienced young woodsman who is the fire watcher there, had recently got a close look at the panther---'too close,' Vinton said." (The United Opinion)
August 9, 1952: "Any discussion of the waxing or waning spirit of enterprise in Vermont towns is bound to focus almost immediately on the situation in Rochester. This week-end a group of townspeople, armed with 10 chain saws and a fleet of bulldozers, plan to build a new road to the fire tower on Mt. Cushman. The plan is to clear a road on Saturday and Sunday that will be passable for an automobile by Sunday night.
Rochester's latest venture on Mt. Cushman is part of a campaign to persuade the state to accept the top of the mountain as a gift for park purposes. The Forest Service is reported to be ready to accept the gift only if there is a road to the mountain top usable by automobile traffic. Hence Rochester's road building bee to provide the access road." (Rutland Daily Herald)
August 11, 1952: "Machine work on the construction of the road up Mount Cushman to the fire tower was postponed to next weekend because of today's rain. Power saws were used yesterday to cut down trees." (Rutland Daily Herald)
1953 - 1954: "Line cleared and considerable work done on road." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1955 - 1956: "Roofs of tower and cabin were repaired and telephone system converted to dial." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
June 27, 1957: "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dean of Brattleboro, formerly of Canton, Mass., who are at Mt. Cushman fire tower for the summer, report that to date he has cleared two groves and built two stone arches and has permission to clear two more in which he will build other arches." (White River Valley Herald)
September 21, 1957: "Harry Dean, who is fire lookout on Mt. Cushman, reports that to date 450 have registered at the fire tower, a record for visitors there." (Rutland Daily Herald)
1967 - 1968: "We have started a program of replacement and in the spring of 1968 a new cabin was built on Cushman Mountain." (Biennial Report of the Department of Forests and Parks)
Removed