Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station
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Fire tower in 2015
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hadley Mountain, Hadley, New York |
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| Area | 6.6 acres (2.7 ha) |
| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | Aermotor Corporation |
| MPS | Fire Observation Stations of New York State Forest Preserve MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001037 |
| Added to NRHP | September 23, 2001 |
The Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station is a special tower on Hadley Mountain in Saratoga County, New York. It helps protect the beautiful Adirondack Forest Preserve from dangerous forest fires. This historic tower was built a long time ago to spot fires quickly.
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About the Hadley Mountain Fire Tower
This tower is a historic fire observation station. It stands tall on Hadley Mountain near the town of Hadley. Its main job is to help keep the forests safe.
Why Fire Towers Are Important
Fire towers like this one are super important. They act like giant eyes in the sky. People called fire observers used to sit in these towers. Their job was to look out for smoke. If they saw smoke, it meant a forest fire might be starting. They would then report it quickly. This helped firefighters get to the blaze fast. Getting there quickly can stop a small fire from becoming a huge one.
Building the Tower
The Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station was built in 1917. It was made by a company called Aermotor Corporation. This company made many towers that were "prefabricated." This means the parts were built in a factory. Then, they were shipped to the mountain and put together. This made building towers faster and easier.
This tower was one of the first ten towers bought by New York State. The State Commission wanted to protect the Adirondack Forest Preserve. Forest fires can cause a lot of damage. These towers were the first line of defense against them.
Visiting the Tower
Today, the tower is still a popular spot. Hikers can climb to the top for amazing views. Sometimes, a park steward is there during the summer. They can answer questions about the tower and the area. It's a great way to learn about history and nature.
The Plaque at the Trailhead
When you start the hike to the fire tower, you'll see a special plaque. A plaque is like a metal sign with information. This plaque tells a bit of the tower's history. It says that the very first tower here was made of wood. That wooden tower was put up in 1916. The steel tower you see today was built a few years later, in 1920.
The Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
