Dickinson Hill Fire Tower
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
On the summit of Dickinson Hill in Grafton, Rensselaer County, a sixty-foot steel tower rises above the surrounding woodland. Prefabricated by the Aermotor Company of Chicago, a maker of windmills, it was erected in 1924 by the New York State Conservation Commission as a fire lookout. The design adapted a windmill frame by replacing the upper stages with a seven-foot square enclosed cab, reached by a zig-zag stair with wood treads. The city of Troy contributed $1,000 toward the station to protect woodlands around its water supply. Eleven observers staffed the tower until 1972, including five women. Helen Ellett served about sixteen years and wrote of climbing its 81 steps. Today it is the last fire tower in Rensselaer County and one of about 20 outside the Forest Preserve. The site also holds a concrete water tank and the foundation of an observer's cabin. Restoration has begun as part of Grafton Lakes State Park.
Significance in brief: The tower is a representative example of an early 20th century prefabricated fire observation tower in New York State, significant for engineering (Criterion C) and conservation (Criterion A). It was made by the Aermotor Company and erected by the New York State Conservation Commission. It is the last remaining fire tower in Rensselaer County.
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 11000253, listed May 6, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Fire Tower Rd., Grafton |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | May 6, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000253 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1924-1961 |
| Architect / builder | Aermotor Company |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Conservation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Not manned since 1972 and not in use for over 30 years; stable but deteriorating, with missing cab floor boards and windows. Transferred to the state parks agency in 2010, and restoration has begun under the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park. |
| Acreage | 12 |
| Coordinates | 42.79497, -73.41337 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 11000253.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22060971
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.