From the Archive: Keeping Watch Over Green Mountain

Editor’s Note: From time to time we like to reprint archived stories of uncommon interest. This, from our Autumn 2006 newsletter, is one of those stories. Harry Libbby lived in Water Village. He died in 2010.

Three trails run up Green Mountain, and countless vacationers, campers and residents have made the trek to its 1,907 ft. summit one of the area’s most popular day hikes.

The reason for its popularity is apparent on the final rise to the top as the overhanging trees give way to an open sky fronted by a superstructure of windows, wood and steel. It’s the Green Mountain Lookout—a fire tower, as most of us would call it—whose keepers have kept watch over the surrounding landscape for more than 80 years.

The tower’s current keeper is Rolland Libby, better known as Harry, who works for the state and holds the title Lookout Watchman. He’s part of an early fire detection and warning system that reflects the fact that forests cover 84% of the state and contribute $5 billion to the state’s economy through recreation and forest products.

From his perch above the trees, Libby has spent more than a decade looking for smoke in the vast landscape of valleys and mountains that stretches in all directions.

On the September day we visited, giant dragonflies swooped in circles between the tower and the small cabin that provides shelter in storms and a place to bunk.

Unlike past generations of watchmen, Libby isn’t required to be in residence full-time during the fire season, from late March through early November, but he stays put for part of the time anyhow.

“I’ll stay here if it’s a very dry season,” he says.

“I also try to come up here for the fourth of July because I can watch fireworks in dozens of towns in two states at the same time.”

The Green Mountain tower was built on Cedar Mountain in Maine, but was taken down and relocated to its current site in 1922. The tower’s wooden “cab” originally sat high above the treetops at 47 feet off the ground, but it tended to sway in strong winds and was lowered to 39 feet in 1977.

“It’s very safe but it still sways a bit,” Libby says.

“When the wind blows more than 20 miles per hour I have to move everything away from the window ledges.”

The tower’s telephone line came down in a 1998 ice storm but wasn’t replaced because it was redundant to the two-way radios and cell phone that are used to communicate with fire personnel on the ground and in other towers. When Libby spots smoke, an ancient compass-like device and faded ceiling map help him triangulate the precise location.

“I have the best in modern and 1922 technology,” he jokes as the radio crackles with a report from another tower.

Repeat Visitors
Thanks to this year’s abundant rainfall, there have only been ten fires compared to three times that many in 2005. It’s been a banner year for wildlife, however, with spottings of bears, eagles and a thirsty moose.

“The only water on the summit is in the rain barrel at the cabin. I had a moose come by and knock the screen off and have a nice long drink,” Libby said.

By Labor Day weekend, more than 800 visitors had passed through to savor the view, hunt for wild berries and sign the watchman’s log. With the busiest part of the year yet to come, Libby thinks the final tally this year will be more than 1,400. Many of them will return.

“This is a place people come back to. The local schools bring their kids up each year and some of the teachers tell me how they used to come up here when they were kids. Now they’re back as adults with the next generation.”