History of Balsam Lake Mountain
Balsam
Lake Mtn. This facility is the oldest documented forest fire
observatory within New York State. In 1885 the land was owned by the
Balsam Lake Club, and fire was a serious concern to large land owners
such as the club. They erected a tower made from timbers found on the
mountain top and paid a man to staff the tower during dry conditions.
This tower was struck by lightning and burned down about 1901. The club
built a similar wood tower on the mountain summit in 1905. When the
state began their fire tower system in 1909 operation of the Balsam
Lake Mtn. facility was transferred to the state. The steel fire tower
and cabin has been fully restored by the Friends of the Balsam Lake
Fire Tower and is open to the public. It is also registered on the
National Register of Historic Places, and the National Historic Lookout
Register.
Other
Historical information
The observer in
1910 on the 1905 Tower
Balsam Lake Mtn. Tower 1973 by
Dick Eckler
Balsam Lk Mt 7-7-73 by Bob Eckler
Old Cabin
Mike Todd - Another Observer and Laurie's Ancestor
Replica of cards the Observers might have handed out prior to Smokey the Bear era:
Balsam Mountain Tower
In
1887, Sturgis Bulkley built the first one
Of logs quite firm
and strong,
But a bolt of lightning struck it
And
burned it to the ground.
In 1905, George Owen built
the second one
Of trees that grew around, and
When
storms and winds had worn it out
A stronger kind was found.
Douglas
Owen built the third one
Of steel from New York State,
And
was hired to watch for forest fires
That destroy and desecrate.
He
also built a cabin
And lived on the Mountain's crest
To
observe in fire season
Day and night and do his best.
Many
other watchers have served
On the lonely mountain job,
Richard
Borden, Augustus Stewart
Larry Baker and Mike Todd.
More
towers and new cabins
Have since been built and manned
To
protect State property and homes
And the Balsam Lake Club land.
Poem by Lena O. Borden Tiffany c. 1976
Poem by Gus Stewart
You
might like Slide, Balsam or Graham
For me they are all the same,
Beautiful
summits of the
Catskill Range.
From the
highest peak to the
Lowest knoll,
They seem to fill
your
Heart and soul.
From the
babbling brooks
To the river wide,
You don't
have to hire a guide.
Now scientists try to tell
How the mountains
Were built
with ice so well.
But as I view them
From my lofty tower
I can't
help thinking
Of One Divine Power.
Gus
Stewart 1943
"This is God's country, don't burn it down and make
it look like hell!" Also ascribed to Gus, seen on a sign
at the BLM cabin.
Architectural Plans for the tower (~500K)