ROBERT FROST MOUNTAIN (SOUTH MTN)
Vermont - Addison County
April 24, 1941: "The forest service is just completing a 41-foot fire tower non South mountain in Ripton and a similar tower will be erected this season on Styles peak in Ripton. These towers will be of the regulation United States forest service type, being constructed of pre-fabricated timber, treated with creosote to prevent damage by porcupines. The towers are topped by a glassed-in platform 14 feet square." (Rutland Daily Herald)
October 31, 1941: "Another little jaunt into the mountains this week took me to the new fire tower that was completed on South Mountain just south of Little Notch early last spring. Getting up there was easy. You take the North Branch road at the upper bridge in East Middlebury village and go north three miles or more, when you will find a wood road leading up the slope westward. An easy climb of an hour or more brings you out in a high clearing. The trees cut off most of the view at ground level, but you're on top of the mountain and by climbing the three flights of stairs of the tower..." (The Brandon Union)
January 19, 1951: "Mr. Wheeler reports that in addition to the complete destruction of the South Mountain fire lookout tower in Ripton by the wind, some of the roads and bridges maintained by the National Forest were also severely damaged by the heavy runoff. The blow-down along sections of the Long Trail are difficult to visualize without seeing and it is estimated that the clearing job will be at least 10 times the normal one. He states that maintenance work on roads will be continued as in the past and some of the cooperative agreements with towns will be renewed in order to have some of the work done." (Addison County Independent)
1953: The South Mountain named changed to Robert Frost Mountain.
NGS Data Sheet
DESIGNATION - SOUTH MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER
PID - PG1971
STATE/COUNTY- VT/ADDISON
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - SOUTH MOUNTAIN (2018)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1943 (PLB)
STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 5.0 MILES NORTHEAST OF EAST MIDDLEBURY
ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN. TRIANGULATION STATION
RIPTON IS 3.28 FEET, 1.000 METERS WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE
CENTER OF THE FIRE TOWER. IT IS CONSTRUCTED OF WOOD AND IS ABOUT
50 FEET HIGH. THERE IS A STAIRWAY IN THE CENTER OF THE FOUR
SUPPORTING LEGS. STATION IS LOCATED BY DISTANCE AND DIRECTION
FROM TRIANGULATION STATION RIPTON.