PICO PEAK
Vermont - Rutland County
1914: "In 1914 Pico was added as a lookout point." "Mr. Mortimer R. Proctor paid for the construction of a tower, cabin and telephone line on Pico Mountain." (History of Forestry in Vermont)
1915: "Other parties who co-operated with the State were Mr. Mortimer Proctor and the Chaffee Lumber Company, of Rutland. Mr. Proctor had a tower constructed on Pico Mountain, and also ran a telephone line to the summit. The mountain commands an extensive view to the north and will be of great value as a lookout for the patrolman on this section of the Long Trail." (8th Annual Report of the Vermont State Forestry)
1924: "During the biennium a new lookout tower was erected on Pico Peak, nine miles east of Rutland. The tower on Pico Mt. was built by Mr. Mortimer Proctor who has turned the same over to the Forest Service for use as a forest fire lookout station." (3rd Biennial Report of the Commissioner of Forestry)
May 23, 1925: "Condemned as unsafe for a fire observatory tower, the wood structure on top of Pico Peak is being dismantled and replaced by a new steel tower. The old structure was 20 feet in height, while the new one will be 35 feet.
The main purpose of the look-out will be forest fire prevention, Mortimer R. Proctor, nephew of ex-Gov. Redfield Proctor, who is financing the undertaking, said yesterday. He is assisted in the plans of the structure by R. C. Ross, the state forester, who suggested the style of the tower and height. The look-out man will be Dana Rowe. He will have a cabin near the steel structure, and will be responsible for detection of forest fires on the landscape commanded by Pico Peak.
The finder is a comparatively simple apparatus, usually a large map, mounted under glass. The map includes all the scenery in view or even that outside of the observer's range, while the finder, a brass pointer, swings from the map center. If aimed at the mountain or peak desired, the finder will locate the spot and name on the map.
The same apparatus is more dependable than the eye of the fire observer, whose view may be impaired by a deluding haze or foliage changes of the year. Speed of detection is also secure, so that the fire may be reported as soon as it breaks out, and much damaged saved.
The top of Pico, unlike the top of Killington, was densely wooded, and the original wood structure could be erected only after hewing away the pines that hinder a free view. The new steel structure will occupy exactly the same site as the old one, with a more sweeping, and in the case of forest fire, more effective survey.
In addition, the high position will be of great value in making maps of the district, for the total altitude of Pico Peak will be 3996 feet. The erection of the steel tower will occupy about six weeks, Mortimer Proctor said. The Long Trail up the mountain is not wide enough for truck service, so the steel parts, supplied by the Aermotor company of Chicago, will have to be transported to the top of Pico by men." (Rutland Daily Herald)
May 25, 1925: "The 20-foot fire observation tower on the top of Pico peak has been condemned as unsafe and is being dismantled. It will be replaced by a 35-foot tower, the gift of Mortimer R, Proctor of Proctor. The tower will be for the use of the fire warden and Long Trail hikers. It will be equipped with a large map under glass and a finder to aid hikers in locating the various mountains, lakes and towns within their range of vision." (The Burlington Free Press)
September 7, 1928: "Earl Holmes is working at the lookout tower on Mt. Pico for a few days." (Rutland Daily Herald)
June 29, 1932: "An early season visit to the Killington hut reveals that there was considerable vandalism at the camp during the winter and spring.
On Mount Pico, where there is a fire tower, glass enclosed at the top, and a warden's shack, even greater damage was done. Nearly all of the glass in the windows at the top of the tower were deliberately smashed as was a window in the warden's building. Food belonging to the warden, Dana Rowe, was stolen and a waterproof cover of a forestry map was taken. A revolver also was stolen.
Two blankets left at the Deer leap camp as an experiment, disappeared after two nights." (Rutland Daily Herald)
June 16, 1934: "A new telephone line has been completed through the woods from the Sherbourne highway to the Pico mountain fire lookout tower. A camp is being built on the mountain top for the use of the watchman, Dana Rowe. The grounds around the tower are being cleared and fireplaces and tables built for the use of the public. The steel tower is being repaired and painted. This work is carried on by a crew of eight men from Shrewsberry CCC camp, under Foreman O'Brien." (Rutland Daily Herald)
May 29, 1935: "Dana Rowe, from his lofty look-out on the summit of Mount Pico in Sherburne, keeps a constant watch for tell-tale smoke, denoting forest fires, and has telephone connection with the outside world so that he can quickly notify fire wardens in any towns in which fires break out, A fire tower also is maintained on Spruce Knob in the western part of the county." (Rutland Daily Herald)
June 1938: "Painted camp, tower, and public shelter. Cleared area around camp of stumps and debris. Installed new cable base eyebolts on tower guys." (Fire Control Work, During period July 1, 1936, to June 30, 1938, "Report of the Department of Conservation and Development" State of Vermont)
July 25, 1939: "Clark Prior, attendant at the Pico Peak fire tower described the fire hazard situation as 'very bad' and said vigilance is being maintained at the lookout during every minute of daylight." (Rutland Daily Herald)
1947 - 1948: "One-half mile of telephone line relocated to by-pass ski trail. One-half mile of new copperweld wire installed to replace iron wire. Tower stairs and cab painted. Inside of cabin painted." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1949 - 1950: "New cook stove installed. Tarred cabin roof." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
May 24, 1950: "Condemned as unsafe for a fire observatory tower, the wood structure on top of Pico Peak is being dismantled and replaced by a new steel tower. The old structure was 20 feet in height, while the new one will be 35 feet." (Rutland Daily Herald)
1951 - 1952: "New extra heavy sash installed in tower to replace those damaged by 1950 hurricane. Tower ground system installed and bonded to State Police and Central Vermont Public Service Corporation Radio system." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1953 - 1954: "Telephones have been converted to dial. One thousand yards of telephone line has been relocated along the trail for easier maintenance. Right-of-way has been sprayed with brush killer. Enlargement and remodeling of the lookout cabin has been started. An experimental optical fire finder has been installed in the tower." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1955 - 1956: "Enlargement of the lookout cabin was completed." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
August 17, 1956: "The only woman fire lookout east of the Mississippi River welcomes few visitors to her cabin atop 3,976 foot Pico Peak. A visit to Miss Caroline Parmenter calls for a drive or hike on a road running 2,176 feet up the mountain. From that point, a hike of more than one hour is required to reach the summit.
In addition to fire watching, Miss Parmenter serves as a member of the Ground Observer Corps, maintains the trail leading to the peak, keeps telephone lines in repair, chops wood and keeps her cabin ship-shape.
One recent chore involved hauling--by hand--sections of lumber for a new cabin floor about 1,800-feet up the mountainside. A trained nurse, Miss Parmenter has been with the Vermont Forest Service since 1953." (Ogden Standard-Examiner - Utah)
1957 - 1958: "The cabin was reroofed with aluminum, a storage shed completed and a new floor built in the tower cab." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
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1963 - 1964: "Due to the difficulty in renewing the State's lease on Pico it was decided to move the tower to the summit of Killington, which is state-owned. The lookout tower was bought and installed on Pico about 1914 by Mortimer Proctor and after fifty years use was still in such good condition as to justify its dis-assembly and re-erection on the new site." (Biennial Report of the Department of Forests and Parks)
1963 - 1964: "Due to the difficulty in renewing the State's lease on Pico it was decided to move the tower to the summit of Killington, which is state-owned. The lookout tower was bought and installed on Pico about 1914 by Mortimer Proctor and after fifty years use was still in such good condition as to justify its dis-assembly and re-erection on the new site." (Biennial Report of the Department of Forests and Parks)
Dis-assembled and moved to Killington.
DESIGNATION - PICO PEAK LOOKOUT TOWER
PID - OD1331
STATE/COUNTY- VT/RUTLAND
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - PICO PEAK (1980)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1942 (GWL)
THIS INTERSECTION STATION IS LOCATED ATOP PICO PEAK, A TALL
PROMINENT MOUNTAIN ABOUT 7 MILES ENE OF RUTLAND. IT IS A
STANDARD 4-LEGGED STRUCTURE WITH A GLASS-ENCLOSED CAGE AT
THE TOP. THIS STATION WAS NOT VISITED. IT IS OWNED AND
OPERATED BY THE VERMONT STATE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION.