WEST POND MOUNTAIN
Vermont - Essex County
1914: "In 1914 West Pond Mountain was added as a lookout point." (History of Forestry in Vermont)
1915: The Vermont Timberland Owners Association constructed a tower and station on West Pond Mountain. (7th Annual Report of the Vermont State Forester)
August 7, 1922: "The forestry department is active in other matters, Construction has been started on two fire towers and cabins in Essex county, one on West pond mountain to be reconstructed." (The Bennington Evening Banner)
c.1924: "New steel towers with stairs and glass enclosures have been constructed or are under construction at the following locations: - - West Pond." (3rd Biennial Report of the Commissioner of Forestry)
1936: The 121st Company CCC erected a steel tower with stairs and glass enclosed cab to replace an old tower on West Pond Mountain. Also a new cabin was constructed for the lookout watchman at this site. (Report, Department of Conservation and Development, term ending June 30, 1936)
1936-38: "Razing of old camp and woodshed built of material salvaged." (Fire Control Work, During period July 1, 1936, to June 30, 1938, "Report of the Department of Conservation and Development" State of Vermont)
1940-42: "New woodshed constructed." (Report, Department of Conservation and Development, term ending June 30, 1942)
1947-48: "Painted cabin floor. Installed and completed lightning protection on tower. Replaced transmitter unit in tower telephone." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1949-50: "New map installed in tower. Camp interior painted. New transmitter unit installed and new tower phone. The telephone line repaired and brushed." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
November 3, 1950: "Mr. Levi Pond has completed his duties on West Pond Mt. fire tower." (Essex County Herald)
1951-52: "2485 feet slack tree line constructed. Tower cab exterior painted." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1953-54: "Tower stairs and landings painted. Camp and woodshed stained." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1957-58: "The entire four miles of telephone was reconditioned including the relocation of 2,000 feet at the top of the mountain. Thirty one hundred feet of buried wire between Route 102 and Dennis Pond Brook was replaced with open wire." (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1959-60: New aluminum roof was put on the cabin. (Biennial Report of the Vermont Forest Service)
1973: The lookout sold into private ownership and not open to the public. Please respect the owners wishes. (email request of 6/20/2019 from owner)