PENNSYLVANIA LOOKOUTS
PROSPECT HILL
McKean County
October 15, 1925: "Deputy Forest Fire Warden Fred Petruzzi of this place, has completed the erection of the new steel fire observation tower for the state on Prospect mountain, near Smethport, the highest point in Pennsylvania.
The new tower is 60 feet in height and commands a magnificent view of a vast area of forest land in this section of Pennsylvania. It bridges the gap between the state fire observation towers located at Kane and in the Black forest near Coudersport.
During the forest fire seasons an observer will be on duty in the tower to report forest fires that become visible in the great radius he will be able to see. The tower is equipped with instruments to instantly determine the location of incipient fires and with telephone to notify the fire warden of the region.
The new tower is located on the lands of Thomas Smith and is reached by road leading from the Devil's Elbow on the Smethport to Port Allegany highway." (McKean County Democrat)
The new tower is 60 feet in height and commands a magnificent view of a vast area of forest land in this section of Pennsylvania. It bridges the gap between the state fire observation towers located at Kane and in the Black forest near Coudersport.
During the forest fire seasons an observer will be on duty in the tower to report forest fires that become visible in the great radius he will be able to see. The tower is equipped with instruments to instantly determine the location of incipient fires and with telephone to notify the fire warden of the region.
The new tower is located on the lands of Thomas Smith and is reached by road leading from the Devil's Elbow on the Smethport to Port Allegany highway." (McKean County Democrat)
October 13, 1927: "The watcher is now stationed atop the high steel forest fire tower at the pinnacle of Prospect hill, overlooking Smethport, the highest mountain peak in this section of the State. This is the annual fall forest fire season.
The faithful keeper of a lonely vigil is in close contact with the fire towers near Kane and at Cherry Springs, near Coudersport, all forming part of the great network of towers which command every inch of Pennsylvania's vast forest region as part of the comprehensive plan of restoring Penn's woods to their former majesty.
Range finding instruments and complete maps are part of every towerman's equipment and each observation tower is equipped with a telephone. The watcher is not only able to spot fires in the vast panorama which unfolds below his high lookout post at their very incipincy, but is further able to notify the fire warden living nearest the scene of the fire by telephone." (McKean Democrat)
April 12, 1928: "The watcher stationed atop the fire tower on nearby Prospect hill reported the first forest fire of the season in the Open Brook region last Friday. A force of fire fighters from Smethport was rushed to the scene and soon extinguished the rapidly spreading flames." (McKean Democrat)
July 24, 1930: "According to State figures, the elevation of the State forest fire observation tower on top of nearby Prospect Hill, one of the highest points in Northern Pennsylvania, is 2,560 feet.
This is the highest tower in Northwestern Pennsylvania, being crowded closely by the one at Cherry Springs, on the Coudersport Pike, which is 2499 feet high." (McKean County Democrat)
June 15, 1939: "It is reported that the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters may install a radio transmitter and receiver in the fire observation tower on lofty Prospect Hill, overlooking Smethport.
Radio equipment has been installed in other sections of the state and inspectors are being supplied with portable units, which maintain contact with towers and district offices.
It is expected that the new radio network will also fill a vital communication need in time of floods and other emergencies." (McKean County Democrat)
October 20, 1949: "With the official opening of the fall forest fire season season we wish to inform the public that the telephone service at the Prospect fire tower has been changed from Port Allegany central to Smethport, and any one wishing to contact the tower in the future may do so quickly by calling Smethport central and asking at 695-R-11.
At night or at any time that the towerman is not on duty, all forest fires should be reported at once to Smethport, 687-J-3, I.E. Bailey is inspector for this area." (McKean County Democrat)
April 15, 1952: "The observer in the State Forest Fire Tower on Prospect Hill sounded a general alarm to area fire wardens and their crews. A number of men and students of Smethport High School responded and fought the blaze under the direction of State Fire Warden I.E. Bailey of Betula." (McKean County Democrat)
April 24, 1952: "Frank Oviatt of Betula, on duty at the Prospect Hill Fire Tower, called the Smethport Fire Department at 5:25 p.m. when the fire threatened to leap the pavement of Route 6 and burn toward the summit of lofty Prospect Hill, where a cottage owned by Ralph E. Burdick of Smethport is located.
From his tower observation post, Mr. Oviatt had the unusual experience of looking directly down on the flames as they roared up toward him, almost in defiance of the state's elaborate warning system.
A large crew, directed by State Fire Warden I.E. Bailey of Betula, waged a strenuous fight before the fire was extinguished at 6 p.m." (McKean County Democrat)
May 5, 1952: "Frank Oviatt, observer on the Prospect Hill tower, near Smethport, was credited with discovering two fires while he was partaking his lunch." (The Bradford Era)
August 24, 1967: "A new fire tower, in the same location as the former tower, is under construction on Prospect Hill, overlooking East Smethport.
The steel tower will be 82 feet 6 inches high, topped by an 8-foot high crows nest on its top.
Steel girder work is being done by W.E. Caldwell from Kentucky.
Mark Carter of Laceyville is building inspector, Lawrence D. Freer of Port Allegany is special foreman and Max Greely & Sons of Austin are general contractors.
With an elevation of 2,495 feet above sea level, Prospect Hill is the highest point in this section of the country west of the main range of the Allegheny Mountains." (McKean County Democrat)