Washington Tower (circa 1920)
(Photo Courtesy Lawrence Ray)

Town: Washington
County: Berkshire
Mountain or Hill: October Mtn
Height above sea level: 1984 FT
Tower Structure Height: 90 FT
Latitude: 42-22-16
Longitude: 73-11-56
First date of operation: Oct 1, 1913
Type: Stone Tower

Tower Footings in 2005 #1
(photo courtesy Bill Cobb)

Tower Footings in 2005 #2
(photo courtesy Bill Cobb)

Tower Footings in 2005 #3
(photo courtesy Bill Cobb)

• The tower was built in 1896 by the Whitney Family
• Tower was believed to have been staffed as a Fire Detection station for only a few years and only up until 1914 when a new tower in a different location was built.
• The original tower was remained up as a public viewing spot until 1946 when it was deemed unsafe and taken down.
• The tower was originally built on the Whitney Estate.
• The Estate is now the October Mountain State Forest
• A 2005 survey by New England FFLA Members located this former tower site. Four (4) very large footings are still on site.
• The Site is still in a clearing on land owned by the State of Massachusetts.
• The Site is slated to be logged and clearcut in 2005. Unknown what the fate of the footings will be.