The Friends of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) has been around for over 30 years and is best known for their ownership and care of the historic fire tower atop Stissing Mountain. The organization has expanded its activities and in 2023 has a remarkable menu of projects. We spoke with Viviann Berlinghoff to learn about the organization’s vision. She was elected President of FOSL on January 10.
FOSL has worked to maintain and improve the two existing trails that begin at the small parking pull off along Lake Road. The orange-blazed trail is quite steep and direct and the blue-blazed trail is less steep but longer. From bottom to top you will have risen almost exactly 1000 feet. The lower section of both trails has been greatly improved by FOSL volunteers. Both trails will take you to the tower, which can be climbed for the pleasures of a magnificent view in all directions.
That small parking area is on a 40-acre parcel FOSL owns that has access to Stissing Lake. The group is currently working through the permitting process with the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation to construct a boardwalk to the shoreline and construct a unique viewing platform, part of an old fire tower that FOSL has acquired.
In 2023, FOSL volunteers will be working to complete a new trail to the fire tower starting near Thompson Pond. This trail will zigzag up the slope and will have some challenging sections for hikers. With the help of the Nature Conservancy which owns the land beneath the new trail and the Dutchess Land Conservancy, FOSL expects the trail to have a grand opening at the end of this summer, Berlinghoff indicated.
There is more that this mighty group is doing. Last year FOSL received a gift of the properties at the intersection of North Main Street, Silvernails Road and Hoffman Road, the place called Patchin’s Mill. Berlinghoff said FOSL has worked to stabilize both the mill and the old house across the street and the group hopes someday to have them both return to useful spaces with some sort of public access. Restoring an old mill will be a particularly unique challenge. You can find an historical timeline for this property by clicking this link.
The Friends of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL) organization came together in 1986 for the purpose of acquiring and saving the tower atop Stissing Mountain which had been phased out of usage by New York State. At one time New York had over 100 fire towers and the last five were phased out in 1990. However, many towers, like the one on Stissing, are restored, maintained and open to climbing visitors. A list of the remaining fire towers in the state can be found here.
If you would like to volunteer, keep up on developments at FOSL, sign up for their newsletter by visiting https://stissingfiretower.org. To learn about how to make a donation, click here.
The Herald will follow up on FOSL’s projects as they move forward.