SOAPSTONE MOUNTAIN
Somers
Connecticut - Tolland County - Shenipsit State Forest
Connecticut - Tolland County - Shenipsit State Forest
1929: "Soapstone Mountain in Somers was purchased by the State as part of the Soapstone state forest. A tower was erected there in the early summer of 1929 and opened for operation in the spring of 1930. This has one of the most beautiful as well as the most extensive views of any of the Connecticut towers. The combination of the fertile Connecticut river valley and wooded hills makes it unique for this region, and, in proportion to the ease of the climb, it has one of the finest views in New England." (Report of State Park and Forest Commission)
July 29, 1935: "Picnic tables are being set up near the lookout tower on Soapstone Mountain for the convenience of visitors to the State Forest. The lookout tower is 1100 feet above sea level and is part of the forest fire protection system." (Hartford Currant)
June 2, 2016: "Little progress has been made to restore the Soapstone Mountain observation tower to its place as a local destination point.
The 30-foot wooden observation tower, a popular attraction for locals because of its panoramic views, sits atop the 1,075-foot-high Soapstone Mountain in the Shenipsit State Forest. It has been closed since October 2014 when the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection found it structurally unsafe." (Journal Inquirer)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY CONNECTICUT GEODETIC SURVEY 1936 (CJT)
ON SOAPSTONE MOUNTAIN, BY AIRLINE ABOUT 8.3 MILES NORTHEAST OF
ROCKVILLE, 6.5 MILES WEST OF STAFFORD SPRINGS, ON PROPERTY OF
THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. THE POINT IS ON THE CONCRETE BASE OF
THE FIRE TOWER ON THE SUMMIT. IT IS 5.5 FEET NORTH OF THE SOUTH
EDGE OF THE BASE, 5.0 FEET WEST OF THE EAST EDGE, 8.5 FEET EAST
OF THE WEST EDGE, AND 8.6 FEET SOUTH OF THE NORTH EDGE. THE
FIRE TOWER IS KNOWN AS THE SOMERS FIRE TOWER. STATION IS
STAMPED SOAPSTONE 1936.
TO REACH FROM THE JUNCTION OF STATE HIGHWAYS 20 AND 15 IN WEST
STAFFORD, WHICH IS ABOUT 3 OR 4 MILES WEST OF STAFFORD SPRINGS,
GO WEST ON STATE HIGHWAY 20 FOR 3.55 MILES TO A DIRT CROSS ROAD
AT SIGN ON RIGHT SOMERS FIRE TOWER. TURN LEFT AND GO 1.7 MILES
TO A SECOND CROSS ROAD. TURN RIGHT AND GO 0.85 MILE TO A PARKING
SPACE NEAR FIRE TOWER AND STATION.
DESCRIBED BY CONNECTICUT GEODETIC SURVEY 1936 (CJT)
ON SOAPSTONE MOUNTAIN, BY AIRLINE ABOUT 8.3 MILES NORTHEAST OF
ROCKVILLE, 6.5 MILES WEST OF STAFFORD SPRINGS, ON PROPERTY OF
THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. THE POINT IS ON THE CONCRETE BASE OF
THE FIRE TOWER ON THE SUMMIT. IT IS 5.5 FEET NORTH OF THE SOUTH
EDGE OF THE BASE, 5.0 FEET WEST OF THE EAST EDGE, 8.5 FEET EAST
OF THE WEST EDGE, AND 8.6 FEET SOUTH OF THE NORTH EDGE. THE
FIRE TOWER IS KNOWN AS THE SOMERS FIRE TOWER. STATION IS
STAMPED SOAPSTONE 1936.
TO REACH FROM THE JUNCTION OF STATE HIGHWAYS 20 AND 15 IN WEST
STAFFORD, WHICH IS ABOUT 3 OR 4 MILES WEST OF STAFFORD SPRINGS,
GO WEST ON STATE HIGHWAY 20 FOR 3.55 MILES TO A DIRT CROSS ROAD
AT SIGN ON RIGHT SOMERS FIRE TOWER. TURN LEFT AND GO 1.7 MILES
TO A SECOND CROSS ROAD. TURN RIGHT AND GO 0.85 MILE TO A PARKING
SPACE NEAR FIRE TOWER AND STATION.