Stratton Mountain Lookout

In 1912, plans were being made for a fire lookout with watchman on Stratton Mountain.

In 1913, the trail up Stratton Mountain was completed. A fund was raised in the fall by parties interested for the erection of the lookout to make it possible to see over the tops of the surrounding trees.

In 1914, in April H.H. Forrester placed a telephone on a hand-sled and went to Manicknung log cabin near the top of Stratton Mountain, where he installed the telephone and afterwards had connections made with several places, including C.C. Fitts office in Brattleboro. Mr. Forrester found the snow about six feet deep. The new lookout was not built but the materials were under the snow waiting for summertime.

In June the building of the tower got underway by the Stratton Mountain club, but construction was delayed a little, the wind blew down one section while the tower was being put up. The damage was easily repaired. During this time period, a 25-acre fire was spotted and reported by the observer.

By the end of June, the Stratton Mountain club was holding a dedication service at the tower on Thursday, June 25, 1914, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The public was invited to be present. The tower was a 65-foot steel tower. About two hundred people walked the two and three-eights miles through the dense forest from the nearest point that could be reached by teams or automobiles to attend the exercises. They claimed it to be one of the grandest panoramas of New England.

In 1924, or so, a new steel tower with stairs and glass enclosure may have been constructed.

In 1928, a ground cabin was built by Leon Stocker.

In 1932, repairs were made to the Stratton tower.

In 1936, members of the 119th Company CCC of Bellows Falls erected a steel forest fire tower on Stratton Mountain, and razed the old tower. The new tower was a 55-foot Aermotor tower with 7 x 7 foot metal cab. (current one standing). The remnants of the old tower still reside amidst the trees east of the standing tower.

In 1940 a new woodshed was constructed.

In 1942, the Coast and Geodetic Survey described the tower as a 4-legged steel structure with a glass-enclosed cage on the top with an overall height of 75 feet.

In 1949, the tower cab and stairs were painted.

In 1951, some of the improvements were a new metal eavestroughs and water barrel installed. New woodshed built. New toilet built. Tower grounding system installed. Inside of cabin modernized with new sink, additional cupboards and shelves and painted.

In 1952, the lookout was Miss Caroline Parmenter.

In 1955, the cabin was reroofed with aluminum and a hedgehog proof enclosure was built at the foot of the mountain for the lookout's car.

In 1958, a rough garage was built at the foot of the mountain to replace the wire hedgehog-proof enclosure previously used for the lookouts car. An addition was made to the cabin for storage space.

In 1967, the lookout was Percy Moffitt of Peru.
In 1968 to 1979, the lookouts were Jeanne and Hugh Joudry.

In 1969, it was said that the Stratton fire tower is practically never bothered by vandals during the hiking season, but every spring, all the windows have to be replaced and the accumulation of beer cans and bottles left by the skiers cleaned out. The ski lift makes it easily accessible to crowds, and hence vulnerable.

In 1970, the state built a new ground house. Retaining the old one as well.

In 1982, this was the last year for fire use.

In 1986, the land and tower were purchased by the USFS for addition to the Green Mountain National Forest and the Appalachian Trail corridor. Green Mountain Club is the Lookout Steward.
In 1988, the tower was repaired and painted to serve for recreational viewing.
In 1989, the log cabin was reopened to provide quarters for a resident caretaker during the summer.

In 2010, a restoration of the tower included placing a new roof on the cab, new stair treads and landings.

In 2015, the tower and ground cabin were vandalized. The U.S. Forest Service was asking for help in its investigation. Both structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are prominent landmarks along both the Appalachian Trail and Vermont's Long Trail.