Rangers and Observers – Friends of Hurricane Mountain

Forest Rangers and Fire Observers Were Key to Reducing Fire Threat – New York State Conservation Commission Certified Forest Rangers were responsible to find and keep fire observers (aka spotters) on the summit and after 1919, for the maintenance of the tower.

Rangers:

Morgan O’Donnell (1911-15)
Leonard Palmer (1917-19)
John Longware (1920-50)
Case Phinney (1951-73)
Richard Olcott (1958-86)

Closing the Tower in November 1979 are David Ames, John Maye, Doug Richards, and Bill Sussdorf. The last observer to man the tower, Doug Richards. Photo courtesy of Richard Olcott, Retired Forest Ranger.

The last observer to man the tower, Doug Richards. Photo courtesy of Richard Olcott, Retired Forest Ranger.

Observers:

Joseph Denton (1910)
Matthew Ryan (1911-15)
Archie Hayes (1915-19)
Milo Bronson (1919)
John Denton (1920-25)
Adam MacDougal (1922-23)
William Potter (1924)
Kelley McDougal (1924-29)
Michael Connors (1929)
Ed “Spike” Farrell (1929-30)
Harry Denton (1936-42)
George Rhone (1942)
David Passino (1942-44)
Emmett Fuller (1944-48)
Henry “Hank” B. McCoy (1949-51)
Reymond S. Cross (1951)
R.E. Pooler Sr. (1952)
Charles Van Fleet (1952-53)
Henry B. McCoy, (1954)
Pank Defendorff (1955)
George Davis (1955-58)
Earl Sprague (1959?-1965)
Robert F. Sweatt (1966)
Ed Estes (1966)
Doug Richards (1970-1972).