By Mary A. Crisafulli
DELHI - The Bramley Mountain summit trail is temporarily closed as construction began for the fire tower on Friday, Sept. 20.
The Friends of Bramley Mountain Fire Tower have been working for the past few years to resurrect the fire tower, decommissioned in 1970, at the mountain's summit. Despite several delays from the town, the friends have successfully acquired all permits and funds necessary.
The Friends hope the tower will boost Delaware County's economy by bringing in visitors to the area. There are two other towers in the county - Utsayantha Fire Tower, Stamford, and Rock Lift Fire Tower, Tompkins. County supervisors agreed the project would bring in tourism when they awarded $25,000 in ARPA funds. New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) has a Catskills Fire Tower Challenge each year to encourage hikers to get out during winter months. The Adirondack Mountain Club similarly has a challenge that combines the Catskill towers with the Adirondack towers and asks hikers to summit 18 of the 27 peaks.
Fire towers were once used as a means to communicate and protect lands from developing fires. Several of the decommissioned towers in NY have been resurrected and now serve as a sightseer attraction.
When the Bramley tower was taken down, the Clark family preserved all its parts in their barn. The Delhi Council agreed to a $1 lease for 99 years with the Clark family for the tower. The Clarks would like to maintain ownership to once again store the tower if decommissioning is needed again. The Catskill Watershed Corporation awarded Friends $30,000 in decommissioning funds.
All parts have been galvanized, and fasteners, footers, and bolts will be replaced to help limit the need for maintenance. Footer holes for the tower have already been dug, said Friends President Anne Roberti. Once the footers are in, "actual tower construction can start," she said.
For more information on the project visit bramleymountainfiretower.org.
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