Hurricane Mountain Fire Observation Station
Why it's listed
Atop the open rock summit of Hurricane Mountain in Keene, Essex County, a 1919 steel fire tower looks out over the High Peaks, the Champlain Valley and Vermont's Green Mountains. Fabricated by the Aermotor Company, it is a 'heavier type' tower with steel stairs and a glass cab, one of 13 erected by the state that year. The nominated area also takes in two trails to the summit and the ruins of the observer's cabin. A lookout station had operated on the summit since 1910, after serious fires in the region, and observers watched for smoke from the cliffs before the tower was built. The state closed the tower in 1973 once aircraft took over surveillance. Later plans to remove it drew petitions and public protest. It was listed for its link to the Forest Preserve's fire protection system and as a representative early twentieth-century observation tower. Stair treads, windows and part of the roof are missing, but the steel frame is largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the station is significant under Criteria A and C for its association with the New York State Forest Preserve's fire protection system and as a representative example of an early 20th century fire observation tower. It is a typical 'heavier type' Aermotor steel tower with integral staircase, one of 13 erected in the state in 1919. Only the Hurricane and Owl's Head towers from that group remain on their original sites under state ownership.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06001145, listed January 29, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Hurricane Mountain Summit, Keene |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 29, 2007 |
| Reference number | 06001145 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1919 - 1956 |
| Architect / builder | AerMotor Company (manufacturer) |
| Architectural style | NO STYLE/Utilitarian (fire tower) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Entertainment/Recreation, Conservation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as not in use. The state closed the tower in 1973; it is largely intact but has missing stair treads, windows and part of the cab roof, and the observer's cabin was removed in 1985, leaving only ruins. |
| Acreage | 19.3 |
| Coordinates | 44.19613, -73.70809 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06001145.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5948116
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.