VERMONT LOOKOUTS

MOUNT CUSHMAN

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)
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