Wakely Mountain Fire Tower
US 113, NY 12

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 113, NY 12 (view other lookouts in United States, New York)
Date Registered March 6, 1995
Nominated by Fred Knauf, New York Chapter, FFLA
Location Hamilton County, New York
Coordinates N 43° 44.141' W 074° 30.910' (view using Google Maps)
N 43° 44' 08" W 074° 30' 55"
N 43.735680° W 074.515173°
Elevation 3,753 ft (1,144 m)
Administered by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Cooperators NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NY Chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Assoc.

Description

Wakely Mountain Fire Tower, at 72 feet, is one of the tallest towers in New York. The Aermotor LL-25 structure has a smaller 6’ x 6’ cab and was one of the first built in the state in 1916. It is of the “windmill” design and originally had a 64-foot outside ladder which was replaced with a safer factory stairway kit in 1930. One of the most remote towers, it offers remarkable views of the Moose River Plains region.

Additional information courtesy of Bill Starr, NHLR State Registrar: "In 2001 Ann Spaziano–Mac Bride and Bill Starr completed field data gathering of this facility so that Indian Lake Town Historian Bill Zullo could nominate the station to the National Register of Historic Places. The Wakely Mtn. station was placed on the National Register in 2003. Awaiting approval to begin restoration work." From The Aermotor Model LL-25 by Bill Starr: "The AerMotor Model # LL-25 was proposed to the State, and ten of these towers were ordered. All were delivered by rail road early in 1916 and nine were immediately erected at Cathead, Fort Noble, Hamilton, Makomis, Moosehead, T-Lake, Tommy, Wakely, and Woodhull Mountains."

Map

Change Basemap

Photos

Nov. 2001--Cabin view from tower (Ann Spaziano photo-courtesy Bill Starr)

Nov. 2001--Cabin view from tower (Ann Spaziano photo-courtesy Bill Starr)

Nov. 2001--Model 1941 Cabin (Bill Starr photo)

Nov. 2001--Model 1941 Cabin (Bill Starr photo)

Evan Williams, left, shoots a photograph from a camera attached to a telescope pole last weekend as he and Matt Strickland take in the view from the Wakely Mountain Fire Tower.

Evan Williams, left, shoots a photograph from a camera attached to a telescope pole last weekend as he and Matt Strickland take in the view from the Wakely Mountain Fire Tower.

Visit Reports

September 3, 2022: Frederick Knauf

Condition

Needs paint? No
Shutters OK? Not Applicable
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? No
Good condition? Yes
Comments: Visited tower for 9th annual lighting. One board on 2nd landing from the top is soft - may need support board underneath. <br /> <br />Repaired five landings' chicken wire re-tying to steel for better safety.

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? Yes
Comments: A NYS Repeater is installed inside the cab and its antenna is installed on the south side of the cab along with a solar panel for power generation.

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? No Response
Directions to tower signed? Yes

Staffing

Staffed? No Response

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? No Response
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? No Response

Photos

July 14, 2018: Laurie Rankin

Condition

Needs paint? Yes
Shutters OK? Not Applicable
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? No
Good condition? Yes
Comments: Due to footing deterioration, in December 2016, the NYSDEC closed the fire tower. A subsequent visit to determine the extent of repairs that would be necessary was done in May 2017 and found one footing had totally failed. At that time the NYSDEC closed the trail in addition to the tower for public safety reasons. The NYSDEC also developed a plan with a private contractor to make necessary repairs. <br /> <br />In June 2018, the NYSDEC undertook a significant restoration of the Wakely Mountain fire tower, repairing all 8 footings, placing a new roof and new safety wire. The treads and tower will need painting in the near future.

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? Yes
Comments: Radio repeater equipment and solar panels are in place.

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? No
Directions to tower signed? Yes
Comments? At the trailhead start and one sign at a trail turn.

Staffing

Staffed? No

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? Yes
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? Yes

Photos

Photo courtesy of Laurie Rankin

October 30, 2016:

Condition

Needs paint? No
Shutters OK? No
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? No
Good condition? Yes
Comments: The tower is fine. The paint is not chipped at all, and the wood is fine. However, the footings are not fine. The bottom railings of the stairs are very loose, and an entire footing of the stairs is not connected to the beam it once supported. The steel beam is just hanging in the air, and the footing is just eroded. Most of the footings are in bad shape. Aside from that, the cabin and tower are fine.

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? Yes
Comments: There is a single radio repeater from the NYDEC inside the cab, as well as one solar panel on the cab exterior.

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? No
Directions to tower signed? Yes
Comments? The trailhead is well-marked.

Staffing

Staffed? No
This tower has not been staffed since 1988.

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? No
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? No

Photos