70+ Standing Fire Towers Mapped - Page 3

hikingandwildex · 04-08-2022, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonehiker

I think Kings Park might be easy.

It was!

Lonehiker · 04-08-2022, 10:11 PM

I have climbed the Tuscarora tower itself. It wasn't safe at all, and it yields next to no view. While looking up the tornado I stumbled across this https://data.democratandchronicle.co...w-york/191029/.

hikingandwildex · 04-08-2022, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonehiker

I have climbed the Tuscarora tower itself. It wasn't safe at all, and it yields next to no view. While looking up the tornado I stumbled across this https://data.democratandchronicle.co...w-york/191029/.

July 25-26, 2009 was a wild weekend of tornadic activity in Western New York. Two twisters in Allegany SP on the 25th. This tornado north of Darien Lake the next day, followed by another touchdown near Lake Ontario an hour later.

hikingandwildex · 04-08-2022, 10:53 PM

One last post before I go to bed...

Looks like mother nature gave Whiteface a punch to the face 70 years ago...

Lonehiker · 04-10-2022, 11:35 AM

Moosehead was put up in Brooklyn. It's at the Industry City complex, amongst the buildings off of 2nd avenue, between 34th and 35th street. The 278 Belt Parkway runs on the east side of the buildings. The tower blends in with the buildings and is not immediately apparent because the roof looks like a light blue tent. Street view shows it better. The coordinates are 40.657565, -74.007526. It's the Industry City ice Rink and courtyard 5/6. I have known about this but could never find it till just now. They maintained it's LL25 look I see. They make sound like it's a piece of art.

Lonehiker · 04-10-2022, 12:47 PM

I believe this is Salmon Lake

Lonehiker · 04-10-2022, 12:51 PM

This is Palmer Hill. I got permission. The maintenance crew wouldn't let me in without a hard hat lol

Lonehiker · 04-10-2022, 09:49 PM

The Eastern Lookouts site has five additional towers listed that are not in the FFLA site. They are as follows

Salamanca
Parker Cabin
Spitzenberg
Manetto
Cherry Springs

The only Cherry Springs I could find was in Pennsylvania. Salamanca is being talked about here as possibly the Lindell tower or close to it. Both Spitzenberg and Parker Cabin are in the Hudson Highlands with articles to back them up. Spitzenberg is close to Nelson, so maybe Nelson/Salt Hill is the successor. Manetto has an article talking about a private owner who set up a tower in Nassau County. Does anyone here have anything to say about these?

Also regarding the Mount Morris Fire Watchtower in Harlem. That thing is old being erected in the 1850s. There were 10 other ones that got dismantled. One in Greenwich village looked like a minaret.

hikingandwildex · 04-11-2022, 05:32 AM

montcalm · 04-11-2022, 10:31 AM

Honestly that's pretty cheap for a town or county to invest in. Keeping it maintained is probably a constant battle, but if you can create a community group that cares about, then it's probably a worthwhile venture.

I also would think raising that kind of money would be fairly trivial for a local hiking group...

And then NY has this program, REDC, which awards funds to local/county governments and allows them to develop plans to spend the budget. I know Monroe county was awarded a rather large one (although arguably maybe not the best recipient). I wonder if you could get some of these financed through programs like that?

hikingandwildex · 04-11-2022, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montcalm

Honestly that's pretty cheap for a town or county to invest in. Keeping it maintained is probably a constant battle, but if you can create a community group that cares about, then it's probably a worthwhile venture.

I also would think raising that kind of money would be fairly trivial for a local hiking group...

And then NY has this program, REDC, which awards funds to local/county governments and allows them to develop plans to spend the budget. I know Monroe county was awarded a rather large one (although arguably maybe not the best recipient). I wonder if you could get some of these financed through programs like that?

Even when you factor in taxes, fees, transportation, and restoration costs, the total cost shouldn't be too unreasonable. For now at least.

Local/regional governments, conservancies, and hiking groups like ADK chapters could raise funds to offset their cost. They could sell donor bricks that would line the path leading to the tower. I'd probably chip in if some organization around here did this.

montcalm · 04-11-2022, 11:59 AM

Seems like you’re amassing all the materials needed to write a proposal. Send it out to whoever you think will listen and see if you get any interest.

I feel like perhaps the least developed areas are going to wind up having he most recreational impact ie hemlock and canadice lakes, Bristol hills maybe and certainly Alleghany. And beyond that really finding somewhere with an exceptional view.

hikingandwildex · 04-11-2022, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montcalm

Seems like you?re amassing all the materials needed to write a proposal. Send it out to whoever you think will listen and see if you get any interest.

It's an idea for sure. Who knows when the next fire tower will be auctioned, though. Right now there aren't any listed on that govdeals site.

hikingandwildex · 05-15-2022, 09:09 PM

Finally got a chance to visit the fire tower remains on Science Hill (near the NY/PA boundary) and the dilapidated Pine Creek Fire Tower (near the ASP/Seneca Reservation boundary) yesterday morning. It was the highlight of an otherwise sobering weekend here on this end of the state.

SCIENCE HILL REMAINS

PINE CREEK FIRE TOWER

04-10-2022, 11:35 AM	#45
Lonehiker Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dolgeville Posts: 137	Moosehead was put up in Brooklyn. It's at the Industry City complex, amongst the buildings off of 2nd avenue, between 34th and 35th street. The 278 Belt Parkway runs on the east side of the buildings. The tower blends in with the buildings and is not immediately apparent because the roof looks like a light blue tent. Street view shows it better. The coordinates are 40.657565, -74.007526. It's the Industry City ice Rink and courtyard 5/6. I have known about this but could never find it till just now. They maintained it's LL25 look I see. They make sound like it's a piece of art. Last edited by Lonehiker; 04-10-2022 at 01:43 PM..

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04-08-2022, 10:11 PM	#42
Lonehiker Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dolgeville Posts: 137	I have climbed the Tuscarora tower itself. It wasn't safe at all, and it yields next to no view. While looking up the tornado I stumbled across this https://data.democratandchronicle.co...w-york/191029/.

04-08-2022, 10:53 PM	#44
hikingandwildex Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: On the road again Posts: 77	One last post before I go to bed... Looks like mother nature gave Whiteface a punch to the face 70 years ago...

04-10-2022, 09:49 PM	#48
Lonehiker Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dolgeville Posts: 137	The Eastern Lookouts site has five additional towers listed that are not in the FFLA site. They are as follows Salamanca Parker Cabin Spitzenberg Manetto Cherry Springs The only Cherry Springs I could find was in Pennsylvania. Salamanca is being talked about here as possibly the Lindell tower or close to it. Both Spitzenberg and Parker Cabin are in the Hudson Highlands with articles to back them up. Spitzenberg is close to Nelson, so maybe Nelson/Salt Hill is the successor. Manetto has an article talking about a private owner who set up a tower in Nassau County. Does anyone here have anything to say about these? Also regarding the Mount Morris Fire Watchtower in Harlem. That thing is old being erected in the 1850s. There were 10 other ones that got dismantled. One in Greenwich village looked like a minaret.

04-11-2022, 05:32 AM	#49
hikingandwildex Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: On the road again Posts: 77	I was able to find more information on fire tower sales. The tower that was put up at the Catskills Visitor Center was purchased for $1,000 which was an absolute steal. The company that made the purchase specializes in fire tower acquisitions and restorations. The State of Florida and other states occasionally list surplus fire towers on govdeals.com. Nothing is currently for sale. Past transactions from the GovDeals auction website: https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...772&acctID=357 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...419&acctid=357 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...619&acctid=685 https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...20&acctid=1328 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...942&acctID=685 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...28&acctid=1328 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...31&acctid=6007 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...30&acctid=6007 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...32&acctid=6007 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...25&acctid=6007 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...65&acctid=6007 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...63&acctid=6007 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...48&acctid=3503 https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.It...D=2&acctID=719 The national FFLA website also has lookouts for sale. The prices currently range from $22k to $44k for the steel towers, and there's a wooden kit available for $13k. More spacious towers in other parts of the country are being converted to living spaces.

04-11-2022, 10:31 AM	#50
montcalm Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 2,279	Honestly that's pretty cheap for a town or county to invest in. Keeping it maintained is probably a constant battle, but if you can create a community group that cares about, then it's probably a worthwhile venture. I also would think raising that kind of money would be fairly trivial for a local hiking group... And then NY has this program, REDC, which awards funds to local/county governments and allows them to develop plans to spend the budget. I know Monroe county was awarded a rather large one (although arguably maybe not the best recipient). I wonder if you could get some of these financed through programs like that?

04-11-2022, 11:59 AM	#52
montcalm Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 2,279	Seems like you’re amassing all the materials needed to write a proposal. Send it out to whoever you think will listen and see if you get any interest. I feel like perhaps the least developed areas are going to wind up having he most recreational impact ie hemlock and canadice lakes, Bristol hills maybe and certainly Alleghany. And beyond that really finding somewhere with an exceptional view.

05-15-2022, 09:09 PM	#54
hikingandwildex Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: On the road again Posts: 77	Finally got a chance to visit the fire tower remains on Science Hill (near the NY/PA boundary) and the dilapidated Pine Creek Fire Tower (near the ASP/Seneca Reservation boundary) yesterday morning. It was the highlight of an otherwise sobering weekend here on this end of the state. SCIENCE HILL REMAINS PINE CREEK FIRE TOWER

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