STILLWATER MOUNTAIN
New York - Herkimer County
1912: The Conservation Commission established a lookout station at this point. (Second Annual Report of the Conservation Commission - 1912)
January 23, 1912: "The conservation commission to-day authorized the installation of five additional mountain observation stations for the better protection of forests in the Adirondacks and Catskills. One of these stations is Stillwater, near Beaver River." (Poughkeepsie Eagle-News)
1918: A 47-foot steel tower was purchased. (8th Annual Report of the Conservation Commission)
1918: A 47-foot steel tower was purchased. (8th Annual Report of the Conservation Commission)
1919: The construction of the tower was completed.
1919: The construction of the tower was completed.
1932: A new cabin for the observer's living quarters was constructed. (Twenty-Second Annual Report of the Conservation Department - 1932
1932: A new cabin for the observer's living quarters was constructed. (Twenty-Second Annual Report of the Conservation Department - 1932
November 28, 1946: "Two fishermen from Watertown are sadder, but probably not any wiser, for a little show-down they had recently with Fire Observer G.A. Clair of Lowville. Clair, who is stationed in the Department's fire tower on Stillwater Mountain, had encountered the two each evening as he came down off his watch, and noted that they were not doing very well. The third evening he tackled them.
'You got the big one yet?'
'Nope. Not the big one. Not the little one, either. They both left.'
'That's tough,' said Clair.
'Darn right it's tough,' said one of the men. 'The Conservation Department oughta put another fish in here.'
Clair strung up his rod and prepared to join the two in their efforts at plumbing the depths of a springhole in the Beaver Flow. 'Now, just where aren't there any fish?' he asked.
'Nowhere, and especially not here. Right between our lines there is a total absence of aquatic life of any kind.'
Clair tossed a worm squarely between their lines, and in less than 10 minutes had taken five respectable trout. His friends had no further comment." (The Lowville Leader)
November 28, 1946: "Two fishermen from Watertown are sadder, but probably not any wiser, for a little show-down they had recently with Fire Observer G.A. Clair of Lowville. Clair, who is stationed in the Department's fire tower on Stillwater Mountain, had encountered the two each evening as he came down off his watch, and noted that they were not doing very well. The third evening he tackled them.
'You got the big one yet?'
'Nope. Not the big one. Not the little one, either. They both left.'
'That's tough,' said Clair.
'Darn right it's tough,' said one of the men. 'The Conservation Department oughta put another fish in here.'
Clair strung up his rod and prepared to join the two in their efforts at plumbing the depths of a springhole in the Beaver Flow. 'Now, just where aren't there any fish?' he asked.
'Nowhere, and especially not here. Right between our lines there is a total absence of aquatic life of any kind.'
Clair tossed a worm squarely between their lines, and in less than 10 minutes had taken five respectable trout. His friends had no further comment." (The Lowville Leader)
1988: The tower was discontinued i 1988.
June 23, 2016: "Our volunteer group, that started in 2009, has just completed restoration of the Stillwater Fire Tower. One hundred twenty five people hiked up to work on the tower or came to planning meetings, mostly north country and Stillwater locals, but also from all over New York, as well as New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Florida. We are partnered with the NYSDEC. Our Lowville DEC purchased all materials locally and transported them up the mountain." (A portion of a letter published in the Journal Republican)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1942 (FBQ)
THE STATION IS ABOUT 7.5 MILES E OF THE VILLAGE OF NUMBER FOUR,
1.75 MILES S OF THE BEAVER RIVER FLOW AND ON THE SUMMIT OF A HIGH
TIMBERED HILL WHICH IS KNOWN AS STILLWATER MOUNTAIN.
IT IS OF STANDARD TYPE FOUR-LEG TRUSSWORK STEEL CONSTRUCTION, IS
ABOUT 50 FEET HIGH AND IS ALUMINUM COLORED.