NEW YORK LOOKOUTS
MOUNT TREMPER
Ulster County
1916: "A station was partially built on Mt. Tremper, near Phoenicia, in Ulster county, and will be completed ready for use the coming spring. This is a substitute for the Slide Mountain station, which it has been necessary to discontinue." (State of New York Conservation Commission 6th Annual Report)
1917: "Seven new cabins were built for observers on mountain stations to replace buildings which had deteriorated and were unfit for further use, one placed on Mount Tremper." (Seventh Annual Report of the Conservation Commission)
1917: "This fire observation tower is located in the township of Shandaken, Ulster county, elevation 2872 feet. It was erected in 1917, of metal, and is 65 feet in height." (Catskill Mountain News)
July 9, 1923: "A trail to the Phoenicia Fire Tower has been blazed through from Willow. The distance is three miles and those who have already traversed it, report the climb to be easy and the trail well blazed." (The Kingston Daily Freeman)
April 2, 1935: "The trail on Mt. Tremper is also being changed. It will be twelve feet wide and will be available for both hiking in the summer and as a ski trail in winter. During the summer months the trail up Mt. Tremper to the fire tower is a popular hiking trip for visitors as well as local people." (The Kingston Daily Freeman)
May 10, 1935: "Mrs. Roy Erickson spent several days with her husband, who is caretaker of the Mt. Tremper fire tower."(Catskill Mountain News)
May 13, 1955: "Felix Van Valkenburgh has been appointed in charge of Mt. Tremper fire tower." (Catskill Mountain News)
August 5, 1965: "Felix Van Valkenburgh of Shanaken, a retired Conservation Department fire watcher, died last Wednesday in the Albany Medical center hospital." (Catskill Mountain News)
July 21, 1966: "Jerry Bryon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Byron, shot a rattlesnake near the Mt. Tremper fire tower. It was three and one-half feet long with seven rattles and a button." (Catskill Mountain News)