Chester Fire Tower
US 445, MA 3
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 445, MA 3 (view other lookouts in United States, Massachusetts) |
| Date Registered | October 7, 2002 |
| Nominated by | John Matroni, Site Manager |
| Location |
Town of Chester Hampden County, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates |
N 42° 19.472' W 072° 57.440' (view using Google Maps) N 42° 19' 28" W 072° 57' 26" N 42.324530° W 072.957330° |
| Elevation | 1,719 ft (524 m) |
| Administered by | Mass. Bureau of Forest Fire Control |
| Cooperators | Mass. Bureau of Forest Fire Control, District 11 |
Description
Built by the CCC in 1934 for the Massachusetts Bureau of Fire Control, Chester Fire Tower is located on Holcomb Hill in Hampden County. The site was first used as a temporary lookout station in 1915. A one acre tract was purchased in 1918 and a 40’ wood tower erected. It was replaced 26 years later with the current 60’ steel tower. A larger 10’x10’ aluminum cab (the Mass. Standard cab) was installed in 1965.
Map
Change Basemap
Visit Reports
May 7, 2016: Jack Kelley
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No Response |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | The tower now has a large fence, locked, around it. Despite this, the tower looks great from the outside. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | Yes |
| Comments: | There is a communication facility around the base of the tower. |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | No |
| Comments? | The tower is located off of an unmarked road and is not in any state park. |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? | No |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No Response |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | No Response |