Sterling Fire Tower
US 102, NY 4
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 102, NY 4 (view other lookouts in United States, New York) |
| Date Registered | January 18, 1995 |
| Location |
Town of Warwick Orange County, New York |
| Coordinates |
N 41° 11.686' W 074° 16.686' (view using Google Maps) N 41° 11' 41" W 074° 16' 41" N 41.194770° W 074.278100° |
| Elevation | 1,320 ft (402 m) |
| Built | 1922 |
| Administered by | NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation |
| Cooperators | N.Y. Dept. of Environmental Conservation, the Highlands Group of the Forest Fire Lookout Association |
Description
Sterling Fire Tower was built by the area fire wardens in fall of 1922 on the Harriman Family's Sterling Park estate. Constructed using steel hauled to the ridgetop by muletops, the 60’ Aermotor LS-40 tower with 7x7’ steel cab was first used in the spring of 1923. Over the course of its first year, the tower had 137 visitors. More importantly, 104 fires were spotted by Sterling and its companion Jackie Jones Fire Tower.
In 1968, the tower and cabin were improved. A new access road was also bulldozed. The road was lined with 38 numbered cedar poles carrying a 2-conductor phone line to the tower.
Sterling Fire Tower was placed on the Federal Register of Historic Places on June 12, 2006 along with the observers cabin.
In 1968, the tower and cabin were improved. A new access road was also bulldozed. The road was lined with 38 numbered cedar poles carrying a 2-conductor phone line to the tower.
Sterling Fire Tower was placed on the Federal Register of Historic Places on June 12, 2006 along with the observers cabin.
Map
Change Basemap
Photos
Older view of tower
2007 photo of cabin by Bob Spear
1992 photo of cabin and tower by Bob Spear
August 2002 photo
August 2002 photo
August 2002 photo
August 2002 photo
August 2002 photo
August 2002 photo
August 2002 photo
Visit Reports
November 5, 2017: Laurie Rankin
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | Yes |
| Shutters OK? | Not Applicable |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | Following several work dates in 2017, the Sterling Forest Park, the Friends of Sterling Forest, the NYS Chapter of the FFLA, Team Rubicon, Share with a Teen and volunteers replaced all of the lumber on the fire tower, painted and made repairs to the Observer's cabin, cleaned up the grounds, and secured the fire tower cab for the winter. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | Yes |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | Several trails lead to the fire tower. Are are well marked. |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? | No |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | Yes |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? |
Yes
Volunteers as noted above performed the work on the fire tower along with park staff. In the future, work will be completed on the fire tower cab and then Friends of Sterling Forest hope to have a volunteer interpreter presence at the fire tower some weekends.
|
Photos |
|
Photo courtesy of Laurie Rankin |
|
July 1, 2015: Bob Spear
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No Response |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | The Friends of Sterling Forest group and volunteers organized by Laurie Rankin, NY State FFLA Director, have been successful in making repairs to the tower's footings, stairs, and landings. More Cabin restoration work is planned. The 501(c)3 Friends gruop now has their own website. In 2016, Sterling Tower will celebrate its 94th year of standing on Rough Mountain above Sterling Lake. Volunteers are welcomed, Contact NYS FFLA Director for more information. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | Yes |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | Sterling Ridge Trail, Rte17A trailhead 3.2 mi Fire Tower trail from Sterling Lake 1.3 mi. <br />Contact Sterling Forest State Park office for details and planned hikes. |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? | No |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No Response |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | Yes |
Other Comments |
|
| Comments | Sterling Forest State Park is a habitat for several endangered species, timber rattlesnakes among these! The Tower site is well known for them...beware! |
May 14, 2011: Jeff Hutchinson
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No Response |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | Sterling Forest State Park has spent hundreds of man hours improving the ground cabin, grounds and tower cab, steps and flooring. A wind turbine generator was added to augment existing solar pannels installed years earlier. All cab glass was replaced and the Osborne Fire Locator is functioning. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | Yes |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | Kiosk still needs repair. |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? |
Sometimes
Budget constraints are felt but Sterling Forest State Park has staffed the Tower on weekends during the Spring fire season; and hopes to continue weekend operations for educational purposes while feasible.
|
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No Response |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | No Response |
April 2, 2010: Bob Spear and Bill Wilmouth
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | Yes |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | No Response |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | No Response |
| Comments: | Front porch of cabin flooring will need replacing boards |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
| Comments: | Wind charging unit mounted on Cabin staff without proper grounding could cause a lightening strike to the cabin |
| Other enroachments? | Grounds are in "unkempt condition" Fire danger sign needs repainting, Kiosk sign is rotting away. Unsure what PIPC has planned for the site-some rumors of a "rental program" but how? Past history of staffing and maintenance seem to be ignored. |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | NO NHLR sign posted- NO Federal sign of Historic place posted No NY State sign for historic site posted |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? |
No
A "radio check" done last week from tower. Unknown if Osborn fire finder is still in the tower- Tower & cabin locked
|
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No Response |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? |
No Response
State Park still refuses to accept volunteer support even though the State Commissioner has made comments in support of it. This is the biggest stumbling block to any continuing volunteer effort at Sterling tower even though it was one of the very first FFLA restoration projects. Problem seems to be a "personal" dysfunction of the Sterling Forest Park managmement or unwillingness of Park officials to accept volunteer help. As a result the fire tower is for all intensive purposes abandoned with no regular maintenance. This site still has high potential for good fire detection and educational for the general public - over 4000 visitors annually - if Volunteer work could resume would be a benefit for all. Tower is now in its 89th year but in good shape.
|
April 9, 2009: Bob Spear
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No Response |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | State Park still refuses to accept volunteer support even though the State Commissioner has made comments in support of it. This is the biggest stumbling block to any continuing volunteer effort at Sterling tower even though it was one of the very first FFLA restoration projects. Problem seems to be a "personal" dysfunction of the Sterling Forest Park managmement or unwillingness of Park officials to accept volunteer help. As a result the fire tower is for all intensive purposes abandoned with no regular maintenance. This site still has high potential for good fire detection and educational for the general public - over 4000 visitors annually - if Volunteer work could resume would be a benefit for all. Tower is now in its 89th year but in good shape. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
| Comments: | Cabin now has a wind charger unit attached by a metal mast directly to the cabin which may become a lightening attracter, Tower still retains old grounding cables put on it several years ago, one is ripped out. |
| Other enroachments? | There presently is no telephone line to the tower- the old one was never replaced. Also no outside power line so electricity is generated on site for radios etc. |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | The NHLR sign, both the metal and the wood grouted one are gone- unknown if they are kept inside the cabin or not as it was not accessible. Trail register booklet in letterbox on the cabin details lots of dissappointed visitors that the tower is locked and cannot be climbed. Without that, there is No view from the mountain-top. In general, the site appears in good shape with new work having been done- there remains great potential here as visitor records indicate large turn-out. Volunteers would be able to help with this if allowed by State Park authorities. |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? |
Sometimes
Staffing appears to be only to answer park patron questions and Not for fire detection. Ranger station status in doubt if proposal to rent out goes through- unknown what that will bring? Detection capabilities with other agencies ended in 2007- there seems to be no willingness to have that again by Park officials. At this time, very little thought for outside volunteer staffing or help. Site is in good shape except needing some grounds work clean-up
|
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No Response |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? |
No Response
At present, State Park has little intreast in volunteer help and does not encourage it unfortunately.
|
May 1, 2007: Bob Spear
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | Yes |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | needs complete painting inside & out- stairs-landings etc, need new American flag for tower |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
| Other enroachments? | Visitation by park patrons in 2006 topped 3,800 |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | Yes |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? |
Yes
Several "first reports" credited so far Spring 2007 of wildfires in Regional area- Cooperative with New Jersey towers and Balsam Lake fire tower in the Catskills
|
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | Yes |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | Yes |
March 7, 2006: Bob Spear
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No Response |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | Beginning it's 84th year of fire detection service to the NY/NJ Highlands Region. Staffed April 1st thru Oct 1st annually. 3,800 visitors in 2005 Season |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | Yes |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | Located on the Sterling Ridge & Highlands Trail; 6 miles South of the Appalachian Trail Correidor- Accessible by hiking trail only by the public. |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? | Yes |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | Yes |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | Yes |