QUAKER HILL
(PORTSMOUTH)
Newport County
Sub-District A
Sub-District A
October 12, 1934: "Eleven men from Camp George Washington of the Civilian Conservation Corps, at Glocester, under the direction of Brooks Harkins, technical foreman, arrived at Fort Adams Wednesday, and started work on construction of the 60-foot steel stairway and cabin-type forest fire tower, ----- Quaker Hill in Portsmouth, today. The work is to be done under the direction of the State Bureau of Forestry, and the tower is on land belonging to Arthur A. Sherman, with a right of way to the tower through land of J. Almeida. The men will stay at Fort Adams and go to the scene of operations in Portsmouth every day. They are from the 142d Company." ." (Newport Mercury and Weekly News)
April 1, 1950: "The fire tower in Portsmouth officially opens today although the actual opening will be Sunday since Manuel Medeiros, official fire tower observer for this area, will attend a statewide meeting of observers today in Providence.
The tower will be open to visitors for the season beginning Easter Sunday, Medeiros said. All evidence of fires within the area are located and logged at the tower. Local and state fire wardens, when notified investigate burning without permits. The tower operates under the State Division of Forests and Parks under the State Department of Agriculture." (Newport Daily News)
November 17, 1950: "The fire department squad rescued a young cat which had climbed to the top of a pole on Middle road. The cat's plight was noticed by Fire Tower Observer Manuel Medeiros. The animal had been there about two days." (Newport Daily News)
May 3, 1951: "Manuel Medeiros, who has been the fire tower observer since its reopening over a year ago, has been transferred from the State Department of Agriculture and Conservation to the Department of Public Works and has been assigned to duty on Stone Bridge. Robert Teachman of Freeborn street has been named fire tower observer to fill the vacancy." (Newport Daily News)
May 7, 1951: "Fire Tower Observer Robert Teachman has been notified that all forest and woodland ares, all roadside picnic areas have been closed to the public." (Newport Daily News)
August 24, 1956: "Also, Joseph L. Schwartz and another trustee to the State of Rhode Island, renewal of right of way to fire tower, Quaker Hill." (Newport Daily News)
April 23, 1963: "Black smoke rising from a fire on Prudence Island yesterday afternoon caused many telephone queries. The fire, started about 1:30 p.m., was spotted by the Portsmouth fire tower watchers. It burned over about 75 acres of blackberry bushes and bull briars on the north end of the island." (Newport Daily News)
May 8, 1963: "The Portsmouth Fire Tower reported a burning index today of 120, considered in the high danger range. The sharp increase over yesterday's index of 85 is caused by the high winds." (Newport Daily News)
May 8, 1963: "The governor signed the authorization for condemnation of an acre of land off Brayton Road in Tiverton for relocation of the Portsmouth fire tower." (Newport Daily News)