PENNSYLVANIA LOOKOUTS
MT. BEACON (Hehge hog)
McKean County
April 16, 1931: "There are now only two fire towers in McKean County, one on Bush Hill, east of Smethport and one just north of Kane. The towers at Rock City, N.Y., Kinzua in Warren County and in the northeast corner of Elk County, southwest of Betula, also assist in furnishing protection to McKean County, not properly protected by a fire tower is the northwestern portion and it has just been arranged to erect an eighty foot fire tower on Mt. Beacon, the highest point in that section of the county, with an air-way beacon upon which it is the plan of the Harri Emery Airport Association to place a beacon at some future date. This tower is being erected and paid for entirely by the McKean County Protective Fire Association and will be known by a name to be selected by the school children of the city of Bradford, the townships of Croydon, Foster, Bradford, Otto, Keating, Lafayette and Hamilton on the plan hereinafter outlined.
These plans in the making for the construction of a new and better road from the Bennett Brook road to the site of this tower in order that they may get a view of McKean County from the top of the structure." (McKean County Miner)
These plans in the making for the construction of a new and better road from the Bennett Brook road to the site of this tower in order that they may get a view of McKean County from the top of the structure." (McKean County Miner)
April 23, 1931: "A third fire tower will be erected in McKean county according to reports, in the Northwestern portion of the county, the only section which is not properly protected from forest fires. It will be an eighty foot tower and will be erected on Mt. Beacon, the highest point in that section of the county, with an airway beacon top, on which it is planned by the Harri Emery Airport Association to place a beacon at some future date. This tower is being erected and paid for entirely by the McKean Protective Fire Association and will be known by a name to be selected by the school children of the city of Bradford, the townships of Croydon, Foster, Bradford, Otto, Keating, Lafayette and Hamilton on the plan as hereinafter outlined.
There are now only two fire towers in McKean county, one on Bush Hill, east of Smethport, and one just north of Kane.
A new and better road will be constructed to the site of the tower." (McKean County Democrat)
October 18, 1935: "Mt Beacon fire tower observation point for the northern fire district of McKean county, located less than two miles west of Bradford, opened for the fall season this morning.
Although the forest is pronounced unusually dry and opening of the tower is at least two weeks later than many in previous years, Mr. Coleman reported there have been no fires discovered in the woods yet.
Telephone service will be installed in the tower today under the sponsorship of the McKean County Protective Fire Association. Its number is Bradford 2-1238." (The Olean Times-Herald)