SCHOODIC MOUNTAIN #53
Hancock County - Maine Forestry District
1914: A wooden lookout tower was established. ( From the photo inventory of the Maine Historical Society.)
May 13, 1914: "For the protection from fire of the great timber lands of northern Maine, Forest Commissioner Viles has designed a fire tower by means of which a fire in and locality may be located at once.
The height of the towers will range from twelve to sixty feet, according to the location. A house will be constructed on top of the tower, eight feet square on the outside, having twelve windows, three on a side. The houses will be six feet high from floor to roof-plate, with a roof pitch of 80 degrees.
The material for the towers will be of medium O. H. steel. The houses will be painted slate gray, and each provided with a flag staff and flag. The watchman climbs the tower by a steel ladder-entering the house by means of a trap-door in the floor. The keeper or watchman for each tower will live in a camp close by.
Twenty of the towers are about complete. Some of them have already been shipped. Commissioner Viles states that he has over 300 applications for jobs as watchmen.
One of the first towers to be shipped will be located on Schoodic mountain, in township 9, Hancock county. Fred S. Bunker, of Franklin, is the chief warden in charge here." (Ellsworth American)
1914: "A lookout station established on Schoodic Mountain in Township No. 9, South Division, and a telephone line constructed from Franklin Station to the lookout station, a distance of six miles. A camp for the watchman was also built." (1914 Forest Commissioner's Report)
1916: "The Schoodic Mt. tower has been painted, new batteries installed and all telephone lines put in first class shape." (1916 Forest Commissioner's Report)
1917: "Fred S. Bunker, Franklin, Chief Warden, Southern part of Hancock County: As to improvements I have had the camp and lookout tower on Schoodic Mountain repaired and new roofing and shutters put on the lookout. The October gale took the roof off of the lookout and carried it about 100 rods. The lookout will have to have a new map and glass. The lookout is very much in need of new field glasses." (Forest Protection and Conservation in Maine)
1920: A 24 foot steel tower with cab was constructed. ( From the photo inventory of the Maine Historical Society.)
2005: Lookout structure removed.