Weeks State Park, Lancaster, New Hampshire
Mt. Prospect Fire Tower

RESULTS:

Trip mileage- 753 miles- Oakland to Lancaster & return
Plus mileage- travelling to fire towers in New Hampshire & Maine plus climbing Mt Washington - estimate 600 miles

SUMMARY:

6 people attended from New Jersey

87 people attended Mt Prospect's dedication on Saturday State Directors from:
New Jersey, Penna, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts attended

A new Director for Colorado was announced:
18 States represented

Bill & Margaret Ellis
1217 North Highway 67
Sedalia, Colorado- 80135
tele- 1-303-688-3412

*Bill & Margaret both are lookouts, and come from a long line of fire lookouts in the family.* Cummings

1) Doug Newman Passes away. Was Northwest Representative of Lookout Register.
Ron Johnson will assume Doug Newman's place as Northwest Rep for Historic Register.

*Keith Argow, Bob Spear, Henry Isenberg & Mark Hawgwout serving on committee to develop the "Doug Newman Award for Achievement". Doug Newman will be awarded the first award posthumously

2) Fred Knauf (NY) will assume position of Northeast representative for Historic Register (Steve Cummings stepping down)

3) Beginning 8/09/92- All monies, donations, expense sharing, Plus memberships etc. will be sent to Fred Knauf (NY) FFLA treasurer & not to Steve Cummings.

4) By-laws were accepted in form for 2nd reading. Approved by majority vote. Steve Cummings will institute proceedings to Incorporate FFLA, by talking to Joe Higgins and or other lawyer.

6) *Advertising in Newsletter was voted down by a 6 to 7 vote

*motion to allow advertising in Newsletter was presented by Spear(NJ) along the guidelines of Sweicker (N.H)- -Note- It was felt by some that advertising as a commercial venture would not be in best interests of Newsletter. However, a strong opinion by almost a 50 % majority of those who voted also suggested that advertising on a limited basis, using those ads only pertinent to our Association's activities and needs/interests. i.e.- State pamphlets, T Shirts, future patches, bumper stickers, booklets, and publications on fire lookouts and related subjects be allowed in the Newsletter "Lookout Network". But the vote was 6 for and 7 against. The motion was defeated and No advertising of any kind, for any items to be in the newsletter. This promises to be a hot issue and future discussions/motions at Winter conference is sure to be a topic of conversation.

7) Election Officer and other by-law amendments concerning Election procedures was tabled for future discussions at Winterconference. *Isenberg/Knauf

8) Motions dealing with distribution of Lookout Network,Newsletter -other articles on Advertising from H. Isenberg werenot ready for discussion at the time of the meeting.

9) Winter Conference in Powellville, Maryland was voted on to accept, with one "negative" vote (Isenberg)

* a trip to Maryland to investigate Conference site & preparations is planned for sometime in October, possibly Columbus day weekend. Hawgwout/Spear/Sweicker

** if Maryland is unavailable, an alternate site in Pennsylvania would be available for the January conference.

10) T-Shirt is on sale from Iris Baird for 92' @ $ 9.50 T-Shirts for 91' conference are still available from Knauf $9.50 New Hampshire"s Tower booklet is also on sale from Iris Baird at $ 5.00 each

11) Letters from Fred Knauf (NY) were read by Isenberg (Mass) -concerning legalizing FFLA- Treasury business and Money handling, and notation on 4 page letter *(Spear) outlining ideas.

12) Treasury Suggestions & Operating proceedures. It was decided that all monies for re-inbursement of copying costs for the newsletter would continue to be sent directly toJoe Higgins (editor) Also State memberships and other donations to individual State chapters would continue to be sent to those State directors. Knauf (NY) letter addressed issue that ALL monies, including membership dues, T shirt sales, and others be sent directly to theTreasuer who would manage the funds-State directors would then submit detailed reports on their expenses to the treasuer who would then make disbursements accordingly. (This basicly is determined as being unworkable at this time, the paperwork and delay would be prohibitive, and until the establishment of a unified dues structure, Incorporation of FFLA, and a central clearing house office for the Association. The present system of State directors and or their co-directors handling the affairs of their chapters to continue.)

13) Dr Argow reported on National Historic Lookout Register activities, and a growing concern to preserve lookouts. Also on his concern that many state directors and members are not taking advantage of the lower rate for National Woodlands magazine. This may result in
the magazine having to prempt the "Lookout Reports" in favor of articles dealing with forest management topics. Keith urged that a subscription campain be initiated for NWO mag.

14) An effort to improve the newsletter was touched on by discussion among some of those present. Caroline Parmenter (Maine) commented that we should be thankful to have as much as we have gotten accomplished for such a young organization. This was seconded by Chris Haartz (N.H.) Assistant editor Cindy Livesey made note that expenses incurred in producing a high quality newsletter such as Fred Knauf (NY) suggests would at this time be impossible. Equipment, money and time being the main factors. However the challenge to look for possible solutions in improving the newsletter was laid open for anyone who would try.

15) On Preservation: Henry Isenberg (Mass) expressed his concern that some tower preservation efforts may be detrimental to State programs in that they will tend to rely on volunteer efforts to maintain towers there by taking jobs away from State employees. *Henry is a State towerman in Massachusetts. The point was taken though that most northeast states are doing away with fire towers, and state jobs to that effect, and that if the trend continues, there will be more firetowers taken out of service or removed anyway. New York has eliminated all tower jobs & funding, as has Maine, Connecticut, and Vermont, New Jersey is in a desperate fight at this moment to retain the A Division of Forest Fire Service, there by elimanating the 3 towerman positions there.

Pennsylvania is still removing towers and job positions and Massachusetts is holding it's own. New Hampshire is the one bright spot in preserving it's tower jobs and sites. Preservation efforts should be done in good taste, and care should be taken not to endanger any movement or trend by to elimanate or jeopardize those tower jobs now in place.

In New York & Maine, this is already a moot subject. There is no objection to preservation efforts in helping tore-condition tower sites, ground cabins, painting/repair work or other, or otherwise educating the public to the role of Forest fire lookout stations and there is no articles or restraining amendments in the FFLA charter to prohibit this. Only the efforts of lobbying for Fire towers or tower positions/labor negoatiations or similar efforts are banned by our charter.

16) Sterling Fire Tower Report on preservation efforts there was read and a short description of the talks concerning the sale of the firetower and the Sterling Forest tract was detailed by Spear (N.J)

17) Report on the Black Rock Forest fire tower was also read by Spear (N.J.)

18) Group photos were taken by Mt Prospect Tower

19) A report on the Lookout Newsletter and it's progress was given by Cindy Livesey
Assistant editor (N. J. ) Other discussions followed later.

20) The New Jersey Fire Report: Status of NJ lookouts was given by Spear (N.J.)

21 firetowers are in various stages of in service, the exception still being Catfish tower. The present budget situation and threatened layoffs have had A Division Forest Fire personnel at loose end, not knowing what the final outcome will be. Cut-off date is now November28th-1992. Continued rains in the north have prevented much fire activity while the pinelands had many large fires this spring.

National Historic Lookout Register in New Jersey:
Ramapo fire tower was accepted and the certificate will bepresented to State Forester Olin White at the Northeast Forester's Conference in Georgia this October. This will provide an opportunity for some real first rate "plugging": for fire tower retention by Keith Argow among State Foresters from many states.

A dedication ceremony for Culvers fire tower is planned for October, with Keith Argow presenting the certificate hopefully to a State Forest Fire Official.

21) Pennsylvania Report: Given by Steve Cummings was a summary of that State's proceedings, mailing newsletters, membership etc. In addition, Steve announced that beginning this October 1992, there would be four lookouts, one each year nominated for the National Historic Lookout Register for Pennsylvania. The first will be "Big Pocono Fire Tower " on Camelback Mtn, Oct 92'. Three others, which include "Pump Station Tower" will follow. Mt Cammera Tower on Smokey Mtn will also be one of those other three. And the fourth tower was neglected to be noted.

22) Vermont Report: given by Mark Hawgwout of Barre VT- there are 16 fire towers still standing in Vermont, none are currently being manned by state personnel, however they are for the most part be in gmaintained in one form or another- either privatly or by State park authorities. Mark reports he currently does not charge anything for membership or mailing his newsletters, however he intends to start soon.

23) Maine Report:
Caroline Parmenter reports ALL fire towers in Maine are officially closed and not in use by State authorities.

*note on this: Mt Agamentus in southern Maine is used periodicly by volunteer lookouts- this tower is owned by the township there.

There was no New York report as Director Knauf was not able to attend.

24) Massachusetts Report: was given by Henry Isenberg- Mass is operating it's fire towers this year. There are 200 newsletters mailed out quarterly, and a large contingent of Massachusetts members were attending the conference.

25) New Hampshire Report: Given by Chris Haartz - NH is operating it's fire tower system which is funded bi-annually. There were several wildfires in the state this year which were actively fought. New Hampshire also maintains patrols by aircraft which supplement Ranger Patrolmen and coordinate efforts by White Mountain National Forest Rangers. Chris Haartz went over the tower tour itenarary for Sunday for those wishing to attend.

26) Individual State Directors made their reports on membership and newsletter mailings and Fire Reports during the day.

27) Dave Govatski of New Hampshire explained how the design forr the T-shirt was formulated and described the Weeks State Park System as well as New Hampshire's duties in Forestry and Fire Control & Prevention.

28) A New Hampshire Fire Warden, (Name unknown at this writing) volunteered to be the secretary for the conference and took all notations.& minutes

29) Bob Spear (N.J.) was called upon to write the story for National Woodlands magazine about the conference as well as reporting on it for Lookout Network newsletter and providing the group photo.

30) These subjects are not in order as they took place during thec ourse of the day. We broke for lunch around 12:30, extending slightly to vote on the By-laws and Henry Isenberg's options on elections etc.

The afternoon session reconvened and unfinished business was taken care of, many of the subjects above. Henry Isenberg was nominated for Archivist position. Other nominations will be taken at January conference.

The Newsletter report and story on the New Hampshire Conference will be done by Bob Spear (N.J) The report of minutes will be done by Steve Cummings The deadline for these reports will be August 31st for Labor day issue of "Lookout Network" .

The last half page to be left blank for mailing purposes.

A Committee was formed to examine and define "Preservation Alternatives":

Committee members are: Mark Hawgwout, Vermont
Henry Isenberg, Massachusetts
Bob Spear, New Jersey
Keith Argow, Virginia

Advertising Committee:-- Who are they ?
Patch Committee :-- Who are they ?

31) The Prospect dedication then took place in the afternoon beginning around 2 p.m. Displays were exhibited and sales were underway on the first floor for books, and other articles. Vistiting with those present took up the remaining afternoon with dinner being catered on the grounds as planned.

The Evening program commenced with some brief discussions by Steve Cummings, Chris Haartz, and others. A slide presentation on Lookout Archiology was presented by the White Mountain National Forest, Former Lookouts of New Hampshire and Vermont were welcome to the show and there was a large asemblage

The evening concluded with some short VCR films on "Pharoal Mountain" NY and the Pump Station fire tower in Pennsylvania, with some film on the Yellowstone fire of 1988.

32) Displays were dismanteled and for items were packed up. Conference policing up was then done, and the site was securedshortly after 9 PM.

33) Fire Towers Visited: & Iternarary
Thursday- N.J. Contingent arrives LancasterN.H.(Drake,Livesey,Merics)
Friday - New Paltz Region 3 hdqtrs, N.Y. (Spear)
Lancaster NH arrive 1700 hrs.
Saturday- Mt Prospect NH
Sunday - Milan Hill NH(Ritter,Spear,Haartz.Hawgwout,Sweicker,Isenbrg)
Whitcomb Mtn NH(Gorvitski,Holmes,Jones*ranger-others)
Mogalloway Mtn NH
Monday - Harris Mtn Lookout- Maine (Ritter/Spear)
Frye Mtn Fire Tower-Maine
District Ranger Station- Ed Holmann- Ranger
Tuesday - Cook Mtn Fire Tower Maine (Waterville district)
Haskell Hill Tower Maine
Bolton Hill Regional Headquarters- Maine *Ed Jones & Harry Doroty- Staff rangers
York Hill Fire Tower* Maine (denied permission toapproach)
Stone Lookout- New Hampshire- (Route 2-near Lancaster)
Wedensday - Mtn Washington Summit 6,288 feet- climbed by autoroad N.H.
Mt Kearsarge North-telephoto shots taken from distance N.H.
Great Hill Fire Tower- New Hampshire
*In addition- many covered bridges were also visited & photo'd
Trip to Barre, Vermont (Ritter/Spear)
Thursday - Left Barre, Vermont a.m.
Bear Hill Fire Tower, Allis State Park-Vermont (Spear)
Burke Mtn Fire Tower, Vermont (Ritter)
Back Home- -- Rutland VT- Glens Falls, N.Y.-Northway Rt 87-N.J.

34) THINGS TO DO:

Send photos of Milan Hill, Whitcomb & Magollaway fire towers &Group photo to Matt Walter
346 Belmont St.
Watertown, MA 02172
617-924-6405
Write letter of "thanks" to Edward Holman, Forest Ranger
Office: Maine Forest Service
RR # 1 Box 2751
Morrill, ME 04952
tele- 207-342-5488
re: regarding Frye Mtn fire tower

Mark Haughwout:
48 West Paterson Street
Barre VT
802-476-8341

Write:
Edward Jones
Maine Forest Service
RR 7 Box 650
Augusta Maine 0433
*Note:
Ed wants to join FFLA- will send him "Lookout Newsletter"and other information on Association- Also advise Caroline Parmenterto contact him regarding dues for membership status.

* Ed is stationed at the Bolton Hill Southern RegionalHeadquarters as is Harry Doherty, whom I had met previously at Island Fallsheadquarters.

Maine Forest Service Field Day at Greenville to be held August21-thru 23rd

Notes on Bolton Hill:
At one time there had been a couple of dismantled fire towers in the yard there but they have since been sold for scrap.*Jones

Other;
Old Speck tower is gone
Mt Pisgah; Mt Pleasent; Ossippi Mtn & Streaked Mtn tower should be visited
York Mtn tower is on private land* see York Mtn Tower below,

There is some type of open platform lookout, on Glass face mountain near Rumford Point, Maine- it is visible from the highway (route 2) It is not used as a fire detection point.

DOCUMENTATION OF NOTES:
MTN PROSPECT FIRE TOWER: New Hampshire
86.5 foot round stone tower, in Weeks State Park, Became a statetower in 1941
Breath-taking view of the White Mountain National Forest and Mt Washington

MILAN HILL: New Hampshire- (Pronounced My-lan') a 60 foot steelframe tower with 10X10 Cab- Active Fire Tower in state service- See NH Pamphlet for info

WHITCOMB MTN FIRE TOWER: New Hampshire
A 60 foot steel Aermotor tower, Abandoned but in excellent shape, was built in 1959. Very few visitors. Tower is open, no lock. Was a private Timber company built lookout. Trail is a gradua lclimb of about one and a half miles through dense woods.- Very poor picture quality. Was raining and socked in by clouds.

MAGOLLOWAY MTN FIRE TOWER: New Hampshire
A steel 60 foot tower, standard 10X10 cab. Active state tower. Weather was socked in, poor pictures. In good weather, has excellent view of Canada to the north about ten miles. Site contains two ground cabins & wood shed. Trail is a steep walk up of about a mile, 750 foot climb.

Side trip to Maine:
*see above notes on Bolton Hill:

HARRIS MTN LOOKOUT- Dixmont Maine-- Arrived 17:50 hrs
Tower is 44 feet high from ground level to cab. Cab is large Federal type. Door was open, unlocked but the Ladder door was locked. Said to originally been a Pennsylvania tower from the Alleghany National Forest. Good condition but in it's isolated site, it may only be a short time before it is broken into and vandalized.

FRYE MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER:
Southwest of Harris. Stopped at Ranger station, met Ranger Ed Holman there. He was eating supper so did not stay long. Ed told us how to get to the tower and said he would come with us if he wasn't at supper. Fire tower entry road a short distance from the station. About one and a half miles along secondary side road, past a farm on the left is the tower trail which is driveable.Three tenths of a mile up road dead ends. Tower is short hike, perhaps 100 yards on hill above. Frye Mtn tower is sixteen and a half feet high with 10X10 cab. All good windows. Excellent 360 view of surroundings. Tower is unlocked and open to the public. Signed log book inside cab-rung type ladder - old alidade stand but no instrument. No telephone. Tower is good condition and is maintained by Ranger Holman.

COOK MTN FIRE TOWER:
South of Waterville-
Aermotor nameplate- 60' steel tower. Looks like an International Stacy/McKlintock Marshall type structure, locked cab, guy wired and grounded Cook mtn is communications site, several large antennae arrays, radio station transmitter in seperate building. Drive up to sitet hrough an unlocked gate. Tower in excellent condition. Was last used in 1991. From ground level, tower difficult to photograph because of trees. Parklike area, ground cabin (large live in type) locked up, several other sheds on site. Easy to get to.

HASKELL HILL FIRE TOWER:- 12 Noon Tuesday August 11th
North of Jefferson Maine, a 47' Aermotor type tower good paint, excellent condition. Well maintained. Cab was locked,no entry. New type aluminum sash windows, guy wired with very stout cables. Footings for tower are deterioating however. Trees had beent opped several years ago to keep the view 360 degree vista. There is a sturdy wooden cabin here on site- also a 72 foottrailer, been here for some time as saplings have grown up quite close around it. Several old picnic tables. Trailer door was open, nothing much left inside. ouple of forest service posters. Trailer could be renovated and reused. Cabin door was locked, no entry.
Drive up to site, easily found.

Bolton Hill Southern Regional Headquarters:
see above notes-Bolton Hill

YORK HILL FIRE TOWER;
Tower is on private access property of a bluberry farm. Owner was quite feisty and would not let us go up to the tower. Said it was a Government tower and he couldn't let anyone go up to it. Don't know what he was hiding. Said Mark Hawgwout was the last person he could let up. Scott got some long distance shots withs potting lens adapter on camera from the road. Tower looks quite old, Aermotor type-looked to be about 30 or 40 feet. Had several dish antennae arrays mounted on it and a tall aerial next to it. There possibly is another access from the other side of the hill off the paved highway.- Future trip to locate that route possible.

GREAT HILL FIRE TOWER: New Hampshire
Property is owned by the State but Tower is owned by the town. It has recently been refurbished with new landings of wood andsteps, excellent job. New floor in the 10X10 cab. No windows or smoke sighting device. Tower site sets in kind of a large bow lbetween mountains. Red Hill tower toward Lake Winipasaukie to the south is visible as is Kearsarge North. The Southern range of the Presidential mountain group of the White Mountain National Forest is to the West. Lake Ossippe is to the east, Ossippe mountains there. To the northeast are the mountains of Maine. Tower site is easily accessible. Boy scout camp in neighboring woods.
Tower has a curious "Gazebo" type frame work of steel below first landing, which at one time had a wooden roof. It's purpose was unknown, but as built would have provided an adequate shelter from the elements, or possible even a watchman's cabin. This is the first design of this type discovered. The two bottom-most ladders and small landings are attached to the outside of the tower. Good photographic site.

BEAR SPRINGS FIRE TOWER: Vermont
a 60 foot steel Aermotor tower of standard design situated in Allis State Park. Has beautiful 360 degree view of White Mountains and Green Mountain National Forests. Tower is in good condition although is old. No glass in windows, and no smoke sighting devices. Mainly used as observation deck for Park visitors, where it functions very well for this use. Tower was at one time guy wired but has since been disgarded. There is a geodetic survey marker near-by.

PHAROAL MTN FIRE TOWER SITE: New York--- MarkHaughwout,Ritter/Isenberg

8/17/92
re©edited Feb 16th, 2004