Mount Prospect Tower in 2005
(Photo courtesy Iris Baird)

Town: Lancaster
County: Coos
Mountain or Hill: Mount Prospect
Height above sea level: 2059 FT
Tower Structure Height: 52'
Latitude: 44-27-21
Longitude: 71-34-12
First date of operation: 1941
Operating Agency: NH Forestry Service
Type: Stone Tower

Mount Prospect Tower in 1942
(Photo courtesy Jack Kelley)

• 1941 - present.
• The stone tower was built in 1912 by John Wingate Weeks, author of the Weeks Act, on his summer estate. His children gave the property to the State of New Hampshire in 1941 with the provision that the tower be used for fire detection and as an observatory for the public. At that time 15' were added to the tower to make an enclosed observer's room, and to cut out a small blind spot. The deed of gift provided that this was the only structure on the mountain which could not be removed. The entire summit area is on the National register of Historic Places as the Weeks Estate. The tower was placed on the NHLR in 1992 as US 43 NH 02.