Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain Fire Tower Restoration Project Website Provided By Friends of Bald Mt., Box 206, Old Forge, NY 13420 Vintage Photo Page Thanks to all who have shared these photos!

Masters Collection Bald Mountain was used by Verplanck Colvin in the 1870's as a survey point, shown here with the wooden tower he had constructed. In 1876, he recommended the summit be named "Mt. St. Louis" - a name used by campers on Niccolls Point - First Lake since the 1850's.

Photo Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection. Summit visitors at the turn of the century with the panoramic view of the Fulton Chain below.

Kiefer Collection Wooden Tower constructed by the State prior to 1917 when it was replaced by a steel tower

By 1912 a summit fire observer was hired to scan for forest fires. At first the observers lived in tents, but eventually built cabins for more weather-resistant shelters.

The cabin was located on the southwesterly side of the summit.

The steel tower was constructed in 1917. Summit observers, still around today, say they always put out the flag when they were manning the tower.  A HORSE ON THE SUMMIT! This is Richard Wormwood's Amber Bay Horse on the summit in 1980. Richard is a former observer on Bald Mountain. Thanks Richard for your dedicated years of service and for sharing your photos with the committee.   Utility shed east of the tower - courtesy of Warren Johnson Great Postcard of Bald Mt. Pond on Rt. 28 north of Old Forge - with the exaggerated Bald Mt. Fire Tower visible from the highway! Postcard courtesy of Warren Johnson Winter on the Summit - courtesy of Warren Johnson

Photos: Courtesy of the Town of Webb Historical Association unless otherwise noted.