Added new material:  12/10/2019

​NEW YORK

ALMA HILL

Allegany County

AMPERSAND MOUNTAIN

Franklin County     

ARAB MOUNTAIN

St. Lawrence County

AZURE MOUNTAIN

Franklin County

BALD MOUNTAIN

Lewis County

BALSAM LAKE MOUNTAIN

Ulster County

BAY SHORE

Suffolk County

BEACON MOUNTAIN

Dutchess County

BEAR MOUNTAIN (PERKINS MEMORIAL) 

Orange County

BEAVER LAKE MOUNTAIN

Herkimer County

BEEBE HILL

Columbia County

BELFRY MOUNTAIN

Essex County

BELLE AYRE

Ulster County

BERLIN MOUNTAIN

Rensselaer County

BERRY HILL

Chenango County

BLACK MOUNTAIN

Washington County

BLACK ROCK FOREST

Orange County

BLUE MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

BOREAS MOUNTAIN

Essex County

BOVA MOUNTAIN

Cattaraugus County

BRAMLEY MOUNTAIN

Delaware County

BROOKFIELD

Madison County

BUCK MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

CAMP UPTON

Suffolk County

CASTOR HILL

Oswego County

CAT MOUNTAIN

St Lawrence County

CATAMOUNT MOUNTAIN

St Lawrence County

CATHEAD MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

CATHEDRAL ROCK

CENTRAL ISLIP

Suffolk County

CHAPIN HILL

Sullivan County

CHENANGO LAKE

Chenango County

CHERRY SPRINGS

CLOCK

Suffolk County

CLOVE MOUNTAIN

Duchess County

COLFAX MOUNTAIN

Washington County

CORNELL HILL

Saratoga County

CRANE MOUNTAIN

Warren County

CROSS RIVER

Westchester County

DAIRY HILL

Herkimer County

DeBAR MOUNTAIN

Franklin County

DIAMOND MOUNTAIN

Rockland County

DICKINSON HILL

Rensselaer County

DIX HILLS

Suffolk County

DUN BROOK MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

ERWIN GAME REFUGE (BEARTOWN HILL)

Stueben County

FINGERBOARD MOUNTAIN

Orange County

FLANDERS HILL

Suffolk County

FORT NOBLE MOUNTAIN

Herkimer County

GALLIS HILL

Ulster County

GEORGETOWN MOUNTAIN

Madison County

GILBERT LAKE

Otsego County

GOMER HILL

Lewis County

GOODNOW MOUNTAIN

Essex County

GORE MOUNTAIN

Warren County

GRAHAM MOUNTAIN

Orange County

HADLEY MOUNTAIN

Saratoga County

HAMILTON MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

HARTZFELT MOUNTAINROCK CITY HILL)

Cattaraugus County

HIGH POINT

Ulster County

HOOKER HILL

Otsego County

HUNTER MOUNTAIN

Greene County

HURRICANE MOUNTAIN

Essex County

INGRAHAM HILL

Broome County

JACKIE JONES

Rockland County

JERSEY HILL  (WEST ALMOND)

Allegany County

KANE MOUNTAIN

Fulton County

KEMPSHALL MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

KINGS PARK

Suffolk County

LEONARD HILL

Schoharie County

LOON LAKE MOUNTAIN

Franklin County

LYON MOUNTAIN

Clinton County

MAKOMAS MOUNTAIN

Essex County
c.1912 - 2nd Annual Report of the Conservation Commission

MANETTO HILL

Nassau County

May 19, 1922:  "Robert Schwarsenbach is just completing on the highest spot of Manetto Hill a fire observation tower, to serve primarily as a watch tower for forest fires in the South Woods district.  Although Mr. Schwarsenbach will be glad to have his neighbors enjoy the view from this tower, he feels that an unrestricted access in his woods would bring with it serious dangers, as was shown by a forest fire here last Sunday, which was apparently started by a lighted match or cigarette dropped by a careless visitor.  He has therefore decided that to go through the woods of Manetto Hill Farm, visitors will be required to get a permit at the poultryman's cottage, which permit is to be handed over to the watchman at the tower.  Members of the South Woods Nature Club will have access by showing their membership card.
     These permits do not entitle one to admission to the grounds near the house and the reservoir, which are marked as 'private.'  Everyone is requested to be very careful not to smoke, not to pick the wild flowers, and not to start campfires.  Do not leave papers and bottles around, and you will be welcome another time.
     H.E. VAN GELDER, Superintendent "  (Long Islander)

McCARTY HILL

Cattaraugus County
May 15, 1940:  "Work is under way on a new fire observation tower on McCarty Hill, between Mutton Hollow and Whig Street, overlooking wide forest tracks from Little Valley and Elliottville to Allegany State Park, south of Salamanca.
     Ground was broken Monday by workers from the Hungry Hollow CCC camp for the concrete piers for the steel tower.  The tower will be eighty-two and a half feet high, with a glassed-in observation cabin at its top.
     Construction of the tower is expected to be complete early in the summer, when a ranger from the State Conservation Department will be assigned to the location to watch for fires in the surrounding forests.  A cabin for the observer will be built by the CCC near the base of the tower.
     The new tower is close to the highway constructed by the CCC from Mutton Hollow to Whig Street, north of the city."  (Olean Times Herald)

November 1, 1940:  "During the remainder of hunting season, certain areas near Company 246, CCC Camp S-106, near Salamanca, will posted to hunters while CCC workers are working in those areas, according to the company commander.
     These areas are posted:
     1.  Along the Rock City Truck trail near the camp.
     2.  Along the Mutton Hollow Truck trail from the site of the new fire tower on McCarty Hill to about one mile from Great Valley.
     3.  From CCC Camp to McCarty Hill along the new Irish Hill truck trail."  (Olean Times Herald)

MEENAHGA MOUNTAIN

Franklin County

MOHONK MOUNTAIN

Ulster County

MOOSE RIVER

Lewis County

1912:   The Conservation Commission established a lookout station at this point.  (#2)

1919:  "The location of the Moose River Mountain Station has been changed from its old location on the highway from McKeever to Port Leyden to a hill between Fulton Chain and Big Otter Lake, from which a far better view is obtainable."  (9th Annual Report of the Conservation Commission)

MOOSE RIVER MOUNTAIN

Herkimer County

MOOSEHEAD MOUNTAIN

St Lawrence County

MORGAN HILL

Cortland County

MOUNT ADAMS

Essex County

MOUNT ELECTRA

Herkimer County

MOUNT IRVINE

Cattaraugus County

MOUNT MORRIS

Franklin County

MOUNT TREMPER

Ulster County

MOUNT TUSCARORA

Cattaraugus County
Postcard, p/m-1944  -  Ron Kemnow Collection

NELSON MOUNTAIN

Westchester County

NEW BOSTON

Lewis County

NINHAM MOUNTAIN

Putnam County

NUMBER FOUR

Lewis County

NUMBER SEVEN HILL

Rensselaer County

1922:   "During the winter of 1921-1922 a suitable observation station site to cover the bulk of the forest and woodland in Rensselaer County was selected on Number Seven Hill, just north of the village of West Stephentown.  The commission brought to the attention of the board of supervisors of Rensselaer County the advantages of such a station and urged that the fourteen towns of the county contribute $100 each to defray the expense of putting in a standard tower and telephone line.
     Twelve of the fourteen towns responded by voting the requested contribution.  The Towns of Sand Lake and Schaghticoke have so far refused to co-operate as towns, although influential citizens of Sand Lake have agreed to raise by personal subscription the contribution due from their town.
     The telephone line to Number Seven Hill has been built; a sixty-foot observation tower has been purchased and erected.  In the meantime, on account of the exceptional dry weather during the fall, a temporary observatory was prepared and an observer placed on duty."  (#5)

OAKDALE

Suffolk County

OHMER MOUNTAIN

Saratoga County

OVERLOOK MOUNTAIN

Ulster County

OWLSHEAD MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

PADLOCK 

Tompkins County

PAGE POND

Broome County

PALMER HILL

Clinton County
1930 - 20th Annual Report of the Conservation Department

October 2, 1930:  "Albert Tebeau of Owl's Head, in charge of construction of watchtowers, for fire rangers under the state conservation commission, is supervising the erection of a sixty-foot cast steel tower on Palmer Hill, and will in the near future perform the same duty in connection with the erection of a twenty-five foot tower at the top of Whiteface Mountain."  (Adirondack Record-Elizabethtown Post)

1930:   The tower erected at Palmer Hill is to supplement the Whiteface Mountain tower.  It is located in an area where early spring and late fall fires are of frequent occurrence, and because of inability to operate Whiteface Mountain tower during these periods, the fires were frequently of large area before being reported by a more remote tower.  Inasmuch as this tower is to be in use during periods of the spring and fall when the Whiteface Tower is closed, one observer will be sufficient to operate the two stations."  (#6)

??  ??, 1966:  "William Nolan has resumed his duties as forest fire observer.  Now that Bill is atop Palmer Hill every day at the Conservation Department tower, perhaps he will be seeing some of those unidentified flying objects that so many people have been reporting of late in various parts of the country."  (The Adirondack Record)

September 19, 1968:  "William Nolan, State Forest Ranger, who mans the Palmer Hill observation tower, has returned home from Keene Valley Hospital where he was confined for several days following an attack of pneumonia.  Mr. Nolan has recovered, his many friends will be pleased to learn."  (The Record-Post)

October 16, 1969:  "William Henry Nolan, 65, died Saturday at the Keene Valley Hospital.  He was born Aug. 30, 1904, the son of John and Margaret Dockum Nolan.
     He was a forest fire observer at Palmer Hill tower for 24 years."  (The Record-Post)

PARKER CABIN MOUNTAIN

Orange County

PENN MOUNTAIN

Oneida County

August 9, 1964:  "Two rangers and about six conservation personnel stayed in the area overnight, to continue efforts to stop the fire.  Rain between 2 and 3 a.m. Saturday helped bring the fire under control.
     Origin of the blaze was as yet undetermined.  It was discovered by Robert Morrison, an observer at the Penn Mountain fire tower."  (The Post-Standard)

PETERSBURG MOUNTAIN

Schoharie County

PHARAOH MOUNTAIN

Essex County

PILLSBURY MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

PINE CREEK

Cattaraugus County

POCATELLO MOUNTAIN

Orange County

POKE-O-MOONSHINE MTN

Essex County

PRATTSBURG MOUNTAIN

Stueben County

PROSPECT MOUNTAIN

Warren County

RED HILL

Ulster County

RED HOUSE

Cattaraugus County

ROCK MOUNTAIN

Lewis County

ROCK RIFT

Delaware County
no date - Warren Johnsen photo

RONDAXE MOUNTAIN

Herkimer County

ROOSA GAP

Sullivan County

SALAMANCA

Cattaraugus County

October 21, 1938:  "While forest fires threaten throughout the woods of the state, workmen from the water and light department daily are utilizing a 40-foot fire tower just completed this week to guard a thousand acres of woodlands owned by the city from fire damage.
     Perched high on a ridge north of the city, the new steel tower overlooks the entire watershed of the city reservoir system.  Planting on the watershed was completed this year, rounding out a 26-year program of land acquisition and reforestation.  Now the city owns the complete watershed, a tract of 1,026 acres, all of which is planted with trees.
     Determined to prevent devastation of this forest by fire, the department this year erected the fire tower and installed a telephone line from the tower to the city telephone system, with three stations set up in the watershed for reporting fires.
     The precautions to guard the area against forest fires have been taken, Mr. Weagraff explained, because the city now possesses in this wooded area a source of potential income as well as a source of potential income as well as protection for its supply of drinking water."  (Salamanca Republican-Press)

SALMON LAKE MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

SAND HILL

St Lawrence County

SCIENCE HILL

Cattaraugus County

SLIDE MOUNTAIN

Ulster County

SNOWY MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

SPITZENBERG MOUNTAIN

Westchester County

SPRUCE MOUNTAIN

Saratoga County

ST. REGIS MOUNTAIN

Franklin County

STERLING MOUNTAIN

Orange County

STILLWATER MOUNTAIN

Herkimer County

STISSING MOUNTAIN

Delaware County

STONEY HILL

Suffolk County

October 1959:  In a cost cutting effort the State abandoned the lookout services.  A transfer of title was made to Suffolk County, so that future protection could be handled by the county.

SUGAR HILL

Schuyler County
postcard n/d - Ron Kemnow Collection
early 2000's - Warren Johnsen photo
.

SUMMIT HILL

Cattaraugus County

1926:  The Allegany State Park Commission erected a 60-foot Aermotor tower as a part of their fire protection system.

August 31, 1933:  "Mr. Ritt announces that the Conservation Corps men will install a new telephone line from the fire tower at Summit Camp to the tie-in at Red House.  It is planned to build the line far enough from the road so that it will not be visible to tourists passing through the park."  (Salamanca Republican-Press)

September 23, 1933:  "Considerable progress is reported on the projects which members of Camp 33 of the Civilian Conservation Corps, near Point Summit in Allegany State Park, have been carrying on in the park.
     A new coat of paint has been given the fire tower at the summit.  The tower was painted an aluminum color, which is said to blend artistically into the background of clouds.  (Salamanca Republican-Press)

April 7, 1942:  "Harry Gray of Broad street, fire observer in Allegany state park, today took up his six-month vigil in the summit tower between Salamanca and Big Red House.  He will live in a nearby cabin, according to Oscar Lindberg, chief park ranger.
     Mr. Gray is responsible both to the park commission and the state conservation department, Mr. Lindberg said.
    Up to now there have been only two days dry enough to cause anxiety this year lest forest fires break out, Mr. Lindberg said.  There have been a few small brush fires in the park, but nothing that might be called a forest fire so far, the ranger said."  (Salamanca Republican-Press)

SWANCOTT HILL

Lewis County

SWEDE MOUNTAIN

Warren County

T LAKE MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

TELESCOPE HILL (SELDEN)

Suffolk County

TOMANY MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

1912:   The Conservation Commission established a lookout station at this point.  (#2)

1913:   This station not staffed this season.  (#3)

TOOLEY POND MOUNTAIN

St Lawrence County

1913:   This lookout station not staffed this season.  (#3)

1913:   "One new mountain station has been constructed during the year, at Tooley Pond Mountain, near New Bridge, in the southern part of St. Lawrence county.  This station overlooks a large area of timber land in the western foothills of the Adirondacks.  The expense of the material for the tower, cabin and lines was borne by the R.W. Higbie Lumber Company."  (#3)

1919:   A steel tower was erected.  (9th Annual Report of the Conservation Commission)

TWADELL POINT

Delaware County

UTSAYANTHA MOUNTAIN

Delaware County

VANDERWACKER MOUNTAIN

Essex County

WAKELEY MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

WASHBURN MOUNTAIN

Columbia County

WEST MOUNTAIN

Hamilton County

WHITE HILL

St Lawrence County

April 27, 1950:  "Following on the wave of the first warm spell which dried out grass and underbrush resulting in numerous small fires, observers at mountain fire towers in the area have taken over their posts for the season, according to Clarence Petty, Potsdam, district forest ranger.
     The conservation department plans a new fire tower and observer's cabin on White Hill above Parishville, which is the highest point in the town of Parishville.  Land has been leased on the Nurney farm and construction will begin in June.  The tower will be 100 feet high and will not be used this year unless the fall season is exceptionally dry."  (Potsdam Herald)

July 13, 1950:  "The fire observation tower on White Hill now being built is under the supervision of Clarence Petty the second highest conservation authority in the county.  A cottage for the man in charge will be erected, also a ninety foot observation tower for discovering forest fires.  Among the workmen employed are Clayton Gosselin and Carl Smith.  Some of the work is being held up for lack of steel for the tower.  The view from its top when completed will be 'out of this world.'"  (Potsdam Herald)

May 24, 1951:  "The lookout observatory which has been constructed on White Hill the past year has been completed.  Harold Hillard of Nicholville is on duty at the tower at present."  (Courier-Freeman)

WHITEFACE MOUNTAIN

Essex County

WOODHULL MOUNTAIN

Herkimer County

Other Web Pages of Interest
​

...................................................................
FOOTNOTES:

#1 - Sixteenth Annual Report of the Forest, Fish and Game Commission - 1910
#2 - Second Annual Report of the Conservation Commission - 1912
#3 - Third Annual Report of the Conservation Commission - 1913
#4 - Fourth Annual Report of the Conservation Commission - 1914
#5 - Twelfth Annual Report of the Conservation Commission - 1922
#6 - Twentieth Annual Report of the Conservation Department - 1930
#7 - Twenty-Second Annual Report of the Conservation Department - 1932
#8 - Twenty-Ninth Annual Report of the Conservation Department - 1939