Friends of Stillwater Fire Tower completed its final work weekend on the restoration of the historic tower on Sunday, October 4th.
Jim Fox, a volunteer co-coordinator of the effort, reported that to date, the concrete work on the piers is finished, the bottom two stairs have been set in place and all the treads on the eight sets of stairs have been replaced with pressure treated lumber and new hardware.
The first landing has been replaced and all the painting on the inside of the stairs is finished. Most of the tower structure and the cab in and out has been painted.
“We got so much more accomplished than we’d envisioned when we talked about restoration with the DEC in August,” Fox said.
“All the jobs that had to get done were made easier and more efficient because we had the right tools and people who knew how to use them.”
Fox credited Keith Rivers and Matt Nowak of Lowville DEC for transporting a locking “job box” that was kept at the tower to store material and tools that were needed.
They transported materials such as cement, paint and lumber to volunteers and authorized FSFT to use a private ATV and trailer to transport heavy equipment, including a generator, saws, drills, etc., that were needed on work days.
They also secured permission from Lyme Adirondack Timberlands, the landowner, to use a log road that is not part of the state’s easement contract.
“We thank both the DEC and Lyme for being so accommodating,” Fox said.
Thirty-four people worked on the tower over the course of four days, driving from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse, and around the North Country.
“Most of the volunteers have places at Stillwater or camped on the reservoir, but nearly all had fond memories of climbing the tower years ago and are passionate about its renewal. They are the main reason we are way ahead of schedule,” said Fox.
Next spring there is more to be done. Six more landings and the floor of the cab will be replaced with pressure treated lumber.
The old fencing on the sides of the stairways and landings must be removed and replaced with new, and the outsides of the staircases must be painted.
“A small footbridge will be constructed on the trail too. Some lucky daredevil will be buckled into a body harness to paint the roof of the cab, while the rest of us pray,” he said.
Stories of the restoration effort that have appeared in area newspapers and television and radio broadcasts have inspired donations to the entirely volunteer-driven project.
Charlene Berris of Lowville, who saw an article in the Lowville newspaper, contacted FSFT and said she had requested that contributions in memory of her father, Earl “Chub” Yousey, a lifelong outdoorsman who recently died at the age of 88, be directed to the organization.
“What a priceless gift we received with heartfelt gratitude! This memorial to Chub will help make it possible for hundreds of people to once again hike up Stillwater Mountain just as he had done, to drink in the breathless views of the Black River Valley, the Tug Hill wind generators, and the Adirondack High Peaks 50+ miles away. And then, like countless families since the early 1900s, take photographs to record a memorable day,” Fox said.
More information and updates on the restoration projectcan be found at: www.friendsofstillwaterfiretower.com.