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The volunteer group Friends of Stillwater Fire Tower has just completed restoration of the Stillwater Fire Tower. One hundred and twenty-five people hiked to the summit to work on the tower, or attended planning meetings. Mostly North Country and Stillwater locals, but volunteers from all over NY, as well as NJ, MA, PA, DE and FL also took part. The group is partnered with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, who purchased the materials locally and transported them up the mountain.
On Saturday, July 2, 2016, there will be a public Grand Opening celebration at the tower from 11 am until 3 pm. There will be an attendant in the tower to answer questions or help explain the views of the High Peaks in one direction, and the 195 wind turbines on Tug Hill in the other. An 1920 panoramic map and alidade will be on the fire tower’s new map table.
On the ground will be a display of vintage photographs, and a 1882 map of Verplanck Colvin’s survey of the Adirondacks, showing that Stillwater Mountain was a key place within sight of other mountain tops within the park, and to Gomer Hill, and Croghan. At 1 pm the story of the 1882 brass survey marker that was stolen from the bedrock and recovered a couple of years ago will be told. The Visitors’ Log from 1969-87 will also be on view.
Those with old photographs of the Fire Tower are being asked to share them. For more information, or to share photos, call (315) 376-6592, email fsft@frontier.com, or click here.
Photo of workers on the Stillwater Firetower provided.
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This is such wonderful news!
Thank you to all the hardworking volunteers!!
Excellent news. But could you tell us how to get there?
If you don’t do dirt roads, stop reading. …But, you’ll have missed a peak experience to a newly discovered historical Adirondack landmark.
Stillwater Fire Tower, Big Moose Rd., Town of Webb, Herkimer Cnty. It overlooks Stillwater Reservoir. GPS: Big Moose Rd, Webb, NY.
On Rte 28 in Eagle Bay, take Big Moose Rd. north. After Big Moose Sta. RR, 8 mi of dirt road to temporary trailhead sign and parking.
On Rte 12 in Lowville, at Stewart’s traffic light, take Mill St. which becomes Number Four Rd. Follow signs to Stillwater. Right on Stillwater Rd. for 3 mi. then more dirt at Cnty/Town line. Right on Big Moose Rd; 2 mi to trailhead and parking.
Oops! On Rte 12 in Lowville, turn at the light by Stewart’s onto River St. (not Mill St.)
Thanks Jim.
Sometime around 1959 my dad was running a logging job in the area and for a couple of summers we rented a house from the Hills, who owed the Stillwater Hotel. It was a great adventure for a bunch of 12 year old kids to hike up the mountain to the tower. What great memories.
Craig Willson
Very cool! I climbed this tower in 1987 with my Mom and my six-year old daughter, Katie. Beautiful!