This map shows the locations of the 144 fire towers that once dotted the state. Forest Fire Lookout Association, Maine chapter
Total known tower sites: 144
Standing, active: 2 (Mount Hope near Sanford, Ossipee Hill in Waterboro)
Standing, inactive: 53
Open to the public: 15, including 3 with new cabs (on Allagash, Round Pond and Debouille mountains). Others have observation decks only, including Kibby and Oquossoc Bald in Franklin County and Old Speck in Oxford County.
Number of towers in Androscoggin County: 0 (The only county in Maine with no towers)
Franklin County: 7
Oxford County: 12
FRANKLIN COUNTY TOWERS
Mount Abraham, Mount Abraham Township, 1924, blown over in October 2014
Kibby Mountain, unorganized territory T1,R7, 1906 (replaced 1914, 1926), standing, observation only, open to the public
Mount Blue, Weld, 1932, removed Sept. 2011 and replaced with a look-alike radio antenna
Oquossoc Bald Mountain, Rangeley, 1920s (replaced 1994), standing, observation only, open to the public
Pickett Mountain, Lang Plantation, 1916, abandoned 1921
Round Mountain, Alder Stream Twp., installation date unknown, gone, details unknown
Saddleback Mountain, Sandy River Plantation, 1913, converted to radio tower in early 1970s, removed in 1990s
OXFORD COUNTY TOWERS
Aziscoos, Lincoln Plantation, 1910 (replaced 1917, 1919, 1929), purposely collapsed, removed 2004
Bear Mountain, Hartford, 1934, dismantled between 1950 and 1961
Deer Mountain, unorganized territory T4, R2, 1926, dismantled 1950
Old Speck Mountain, Grafton Notch, 1914 (replaced 1919,) standing, observation only, open to the public
Pleasant Mountain, Denmark, built 1920 (rebuilt 1968), standing
Roost (The Roost), Batchelder’s Grant, 1940, removed 1940s
Sabattus Mountain, Lovell, 1939, disassembled 1962 and moved to Mt. Hope near Sanford
Speckled Mountain, Stoneham, 1914 (replaced 1917, 1919, 1933), relocated to Streaked Mountain 1987
Spruce Mountain, Woodstock, installation date unknown, gone (details unknown)
Streaked Mountain, Buckfield, 1950 (replaced 1987), standing
West Kennebago Mountain, Upper Cupsuptic Twp., 1911 (replaced 1914), removed May 2012
Zircon Mountain, Milton Township, 1922, cab and lightning shack burned 1975
Source: Forest Fire Lookout Association, Maine chapter
Send questions/comments to the editors.
