Mount
Nimham Fire Tower
Restoration Project
The Firetower
on top of Kent's own Mount Nimham, itself more than 1200 feet
high, stands 90' above the mountain top making it the tallest
existing fire tower in New York State. While Mount Nimham is not
the tallest peak in our County (that honor goes to Bull
Hill, sometimes known as Mount Taurus, in Phillipstown) the view
from the tower is all-encompassing, taking in NYC to the south
through to the Berkshires and the Catskills 75 miles away.
Currently
under volunteer restoration by the Kent CAC, PlanKent and other
organizations (and always looking for volunteers!) the tower will
serve as a focal point for tourism in our community and as a lovely
and exciting place for a family outing.
Great fires
in the early 1900s destroyed millions of acres of forest in New
York, leading to the creation of state fire districts. Fire Towers
were erected on mountains in these districts from which spotters
could quickly locate potentially dangerous fires sparked by railroad
locomotives, careless hunters or residents burning brush.
 Located
in the Taconic Hills about 60 miles north of New York City
and
in the heart of Putnam County, Mount Nimham Fire Tower was built
by the State of New York and the CCC in 1940. The 90' International
Derrick and Equipment Company
tower with a 7' x 7' metal cab is located on state forestland.
The tower is listed with the National Historic Lookout Register.
Although
not used for fire detection in many years, the Fire Tower
site
was maintained as a radio repeater site for Putnam County Emergency
Services. A new communications tower for these services now
stands nearby.
When the
restoration efforts are complete, the tower will again offer majestic
views of the area. On a clear day you can see south to New York
City, west to the Catskills and north to the Taconics and Berkshire
foothills. Also visible in this scenic panorama are Poughkeepsie,
Beacon, the entire Croton watershed, all of Putnam County and
parts of Connecticut. In the distance to the west, the Shawangunks,
Marlboro Hills and Harriman State Park form a virtually unbroken
line of impressive heights and preserved recreational open spaces.
In the middle
of the 1990s, The Town of Kent’s Conservation Advisory Committee
(CAC) and PLAN Kent, a group of interested citizens, met to discuss
the deteriorating condition of the steel fire tower, in the hope
of organizing a restoration.
The Friends
of Mount Nimham was formed at that meeting, and with the endorsement
of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
was granted stewardship of this historic Fire Tower.
 Our
Vision
- We want
to bring the community together to:
- Make the
Fire Tower available for public use,
- Restore
and install the tower’s stairs and repair the tower’s
canopy,
- Encourage
public support for the enjoyment of the Mount Nimham recreation
area,
- Involve
the community in the rehabilitation of this important resource,
- And, draw
attention to the historical significance of the Mountain and
the Man, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, a defender of the
Colonies and the last Sachem of the Wappinger’s.
The Friends
of Mount Nimham are raising funds to restore the tower to bring
back the thrill of the climb and the joy of the wonderful views,
and return to Putnam County a valuable resource for all its citizens.
Won’t you join us?
Send Your
Tax Deductible Contributions to:
Friends
of Mount Nimham
c/o Sal Tripi
64 Gleneida Avenue
Carmel, NY10512
(Please,
make your check payable to PLAN Kent and write Fire Tower
in the memo space.)
Send Email
To Fire
Tower Restoration Project.
Links:
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