US
655, New York 28
Dutchess County, New York
Elevation: 1600'
Coordinates: N41 28.893 W73 56.665
Administrative Unit: NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Cooperators: City of Beacon; NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation
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The Mount Beacon Fire Tower was built in 1931 on the site of an earlier
wooden tower. It was used by NY State Forest Rangers for 50 years before
being decommissioned in 1987. The 60’ Aermotor LS-40 tower with 7’x7’ metal cab
overlooks the Hudson River Valley, including the skyscrapers of New York
City 55 miles to the south. Despite the fact that DEC surplused the
tower more than a decade ago, there were no buyers, or takers, so the tower
remains a DEC tower on City of Beacon land.
Additional information and photos courtesy of Bill Starr, NHLR State
Registrar:
"This station appears in the 1922 and 1924 Annual Reports to the
Legislature as South Beacon Mtn. which was first established with no tower
of any kind. During this time when the Observer spotted a fire he had to
walk a quarter mile down the foot trail to a tree where the telephone line
ended. He then had to climb that tree to dial out on a temporary type
telephone. This facility was upgraded to a steel fire tower in 1931.
Awaiting restoration group formation."
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1974 (Bob Eckler photo) |
1974 Cabin (Bob
Eckler photo) |
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