Adirondack Fire Towers by Martin Podskoch

In April 1910 a fire observer was stationed on St. We maintain a telephone line between Bay Pond and Paul Smith’s which runs along this road, and we also are connected with the Postal Telegraph line running to Paul Smith’s Hotel, so that it would be very easy for your men to notify us of any fires on our property.” In this event, I would suggest, for your information, that the most convenient way of running wires would be down the north side of the mountain to the highway leading from the old town of Brandon to Paul Smith’s Hotel. “I presume that you would probably wish to station your man somewhere near the tripod erected on the mountain for signal purposes by the United States Government. Redwood, at Bay Pond, would be immediately notified of any fires that were discovered on our property. If the station is established, he would appreciate it if you would arrange so that our superintendent, Mr. He will be very glad to co-operate in your plans to allow the Forest, Fish and Game Commission to establish an observation station for the apprehension of fires on St. and asked me to write you in reference to the matter. William Rockefeller, has handed me your letter. Whipple of the Forest, Fish and Game Commission, received a letter from the son of William Rockefeller dated February 24, 1910: “My father, Mr. One fire in 1903 destroyed 40,000 acres on his estate.Ĭ.

Regis Mountain and some of the local residents hated him so much that they started fires and sat back and watched them burn. William Rockefeller, president of Standard Oil Company of New York, owned a large estate near St. Sparks from railroad trains started many of the early fires, but arsonists started some. The fire got out of control and destroyed most of the summit’s vegetation. Regis Mountain (2,882’) in the town of Santa Clara in Franklin County is partially bare rock due to a fire that was started in 1876 by Verplanck Colvin’s surveyors and their guides to get rid of brush loggers had left behind.

Their History and Lore, The Northern District An excerpt with permission from Martin Podskoch

Adirondack Fire Towers by Martin Podskoch