Apr
Northwest of Baraga near the shores of Otter Lake stands this iconic tower, probably the last of its type still standing in Houghton County. The tower was once part of a network of similar towers scattered about the Keweenaw, used to spot smoke from newborn forest fires. This particular tower is known as the Askel tower, named after the hill on which it stands. It rises nearly a hundred feet in the air and provides an amazing view of the Sturgeon River valley and southern Houghton County.
A closer look at the old tower reveals a very interesting and odd detail – what looks to be an elevator attached to its northern facing side. Turns out this is an elevator, a construction type elevator built by the tower’s current owners – the Keweenaw Research Center. The center apparently leases out the tower for what they call “look-down studies” – whatever that means. Apparently it’s utilized for vehicle testing in some capacity.
There is also a tower in Herman that still has the original top on it. but it also has newer antennas.
Right here: 46.674085,-88.36838
Cool! There are so many old fire tower sites, but I’ve never seen a “live” one…
It’s really just a uber deer blind for Tech execs….
Though it hasn’t been used in quite a while, ‘look-down studies’ used to be conducted here for signature work. ie; testing different camouflage patterns, coatings, netting, etc. Having height makes it possible to ‘look-down’ and measure a vehicle’s signature through optics, heat, radar, etc… I believe the elevator still works, though you couldn’t pay me to use it!
Isn’t there one of these near the Hanka homestead site in Arnheim?
Eric, I think this is the fire tower thats close to the Hanka homestead
This is that tower.
Aha. No wonder it looked familiar!
Used to be a fun climb until KRC purchased and put up the fence around it.
This is cool. There are a couple of fire towers on Isle Royal. I think there’s also one near Cadillac, MI not far from were I live. Oh, There’s also one at the Seney national wildlife refuge. You can see it as you drive by on M-117.