Credit: Bill Hedges
An active year for the Friends of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) continued when the project to replace the stairs and landings on the fire tower was successfully completed on October 24.
The work was completed in three work days.
A tower committee was formed at a FOSL meeting on Aug. 1, with Scott Chase and Bill Hedges agreeing to serve as co-chairs. The committee set October as the target for completing the work. The stairs up the tower consist of 106 treads and seven landings. It was estimated that about half of the treads were original from 1933-34 when the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the tower. All 106 treads and the landings were replaced.
The following worked on the project: Scott Chase, Wesley Chase, Bill Hedges, Matt Zick, Keith Sisco, Mike Manning, Matt Coulombe. Special thanks go to Louisa Grassi, who allowed access using ATV’s from her property. Matt Zick arranged the purchase of the wood and the needed hardware and sealants.
The wood is larch and came from the recently replaced Tappan Zee Bridge and was purchased at APEX, the supplier immediately to the south of Stewart’s. Bill Hedges pre-cut, pre drilled, stained and sealed all the boards. Scott Chase arranged for the printing of a tower restoration-specific solicitation letter with the directors individually signing 100 copies.
The project could not have been done without Wesley Chase, who handled all the loading and hauling of equipment with his ATV. His skills (and youth), which included working with a harness on the high steel, were key to this operation.
But most importantly, this project could not have happened without the donations that came from the community.