Mount Adams Fire Observation Station
Why it's listed
Mount Adams Fire Observation Station occupies the 3,250-foot summit and slopes of a mountain in the Adirondack Forest Preserve near Newcomb, New York. It consists of a steel AerMotor fire tower erected in 1917, an observer's cabin built in 1922, a shed, a privy and the two-mile foot trail connecting them. The station replaced an earlier wooden tower from 1912 and was set up with encouragement from the neighboring Tahawus Club after severe wildfires in the early twentieth century. Tower parts were hauled up the mountain by horse team. The cabin is the only surviving example in the state of the first standard observer's cabin design, adopted in 1922. A 1930 telephone line linked the site until it closed, and the station was decommissioned in 1970. The cabin and shed are in disrepair but salvageable, and a volunteer friends group has formed to restore them and reopen the trail.
Significance in brief: The station is argued to be significant under criteria A and C for its association with the New York State Forest Preserve and as an example of an early twentieth century fire tower with related structures. The 1922 cabin is the only surviving example in New York of the first standard observer's cabin design. The station also reflects the state's early efforts to detect and control wildfires.
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 06000253, listed April 12, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Mount Adams, Newcomb |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | April 12, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000253 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1917-1955 |
| 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) | Not in use; decommissioned in 1970. The cabin and shed are in disrepair but salvageable, and the trail is overgrown and hard to follow. |
| Acreage | 7.5 |
| Coordinates | 44.08121, -74.05556 (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 06000253.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6919254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.