MASSACHUSETTS LOOKOUTS
STEERAGE ROCK
BRIMFIELD
Hampden County
Hampden County
January 31, 1915: "In a recent report State Forester Rane asserted that the cost of forest fires in this State has been decreased 75 percent since the establishment of fire lookouts. During that time, however, the cost of forest fires in this town has increased about 60 percent. The lookout in this section is stationed at Steerage Rock in Brimfield. Every season since the station was built he has reported many fires to the Palmer Department and his work has resulted in great saving to property, it is said. The number of forest fires hereabouts has increased greatly during the past few years, largely because of the dry seasons, the fireman says." (The Boston Daily Globe)
September 21, 1938: The lookout was destroyed in the Great New England Hurricane of 1938.
National Geodetic Survey
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY MASSACHUSETTS GEODETIC SURVEY 1938
STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 1.5 MILES NW OF THE VILLAGE OF
BRIMFIELD ON ONE OF THE NUMEROUS LEDGE OUTCROPS ON SUMMIT OF A
PROMINENT HILL FROM WHICH MOUNTAIN BROOK FLOWS DUE S. STATION
IS ABOUT MIDWAY BETWEEN DUNHAMPTON-BRIMFIELD ROAD ON THE W AND
HIGHWAY 19 ON THE E, AND ABOUT DUE W FROM WHERE PIX HILL ROAD
JOINS HIGHWAY 19. NEAR THE SUMMIT IS ONE BOULDER VERY
CONSPICUOUS FOR ITS SIZE WHICH IS LOCALLY KNOWN AS STEERAGE
ROCK, FROM WHICH POINT STATION IS 85 FEET S 55 DEG
(MAGNETIC). FIRE OBSERVATION TOWER NO.25 ONCE NEARBY, WAS
DESTROYED BY HURRICANE 9-21-38.
DESCRIBED BY MASSACHUSETTS GEODETIC SURVEY 1938
STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 1.5 MILES NW OF THE VILLAGE OF
BRIMFIELD ON ONE OF THE NUMEROUS LEDGE OUTCROPS ON SUMMIT OF A
PROMINENT HILL FROM WHICH MOUNTAIN BROOK FLOWS DUE S. STATION
IS ABOUT MIDWAY BETWEEN DUNHAMPTON-BRIMFIELD ROAD ON THE W AND
HIGHWAY 19 ON THE E, AND ABOUT DUE W FROM WHERE PIX HILL ROAD
JOINS HIGHWAY 19. NEAR THE SUMMIT IS ONE BOULDER VERY
CONSPICUOUS FOR ITS SIZE WHICH IS LOCALLY KNOWN AS STEERAGE
ROCK, FROM WHICH POINT STATION IS 85 FEET S 55 DEG
(MAGNETIC). FIRE OBSERVATION TOWER NO.25 ONCE NEARBY, WAS
DESTROYED BY HURRICANE 9-21-38.