NUMBER FOUR
New York - Lewis County
May 11, 1922: “The Fisher Forestry and Realty Company (formerly the M.L. Fisher estate) of Lyons Falls, is taking substantial measures to prevent and extinguish fire in the woods. The company has just completed the establishment of a new fire observation tower on a rock mountain south east of Half Moon Lake in the town of Watson, Lewis County. The station has telephone connection with the line from Lowville to Number Four. The conservation Commission and Fenton & Dence, of Lowville, have co-operated in up the tower. This lookout will be used as a secondary and emergency station, the Fisher Co. maintaining an observer to watch for fire during dry periods, and will supplement the Beaver Lake Mountain and Stillwater Mountain observations stations. From the Half Moon station a large acreage of various owners in the towns of Watson and Greig can be observed. This area has been in considerable danger every year and much land burnt because of the carelessness of fishermen, campers and hunters in leaving fire.” (The Journal and Republican)
July 25, 1928: "A steel fire tower, 80 feet high, and with a glass-enclosed observatory, has been erected at Number Four by the Fisher Forestry and Realty Company." (Black River Democrat)
July 26, 1928: "The Fisher Forestry and Realty Company has recently completed, with the co-operation of the Conservation Department the erection of a steel fire tower near Number Four. The tower is nearly 80 feet in height and of modern type, having observatory enclosed with glass.
The view from the tower covers a large stretch of wood land not seen so clearly and easily from the fire observation stations at Beaver Lake Mountain and Stillwater, and will admirably supplement these two lookouts. The tower will be used more as an emergency tower in the time of drought and will be a great help in forest fire protection in that region. Time is as important a factor in fighting fire in the forest as in a village or city, and the prompt discovery of a blaze in the woods will enable it to be extinguished by a few men at the start when if allowed to gain headway, would burn over a large area of valuable timber land and would require a large force of men to put it under control and a far greater cost." (The Journal and Republican)
1945: The duties of the Beaver Lake Mountain Lookout were transferred to the Number 4 lookout.
July 30, 1953: (July 26, 1928)“The Fisher Forestry and Realty Company, has recently completed, with the co-operation of the conservation department, the erection of a steel fire tower near Number Four.” (The Journal and Republican) Archives
1982: The final year, the operations discontinued.
1987: The tower removed, the chief reason cited was the extensive vandalism.