New Ashford (Brodie Mountain)
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Fire tower location: Brodie Mountain, New Ashford, Berkshire County, MA In 1955, DCR took by eminent domain a one-acre parcel of land for a fire observation tower on the summit of Brodie Mountain. It also took a right of way over Long Trail to the site. According to DCR records, the fire tower was used on a very limited basis through 1971 and not at all after that. The lower steps were removed in 1986 and the cabin was dismantled sometime after 1995. The tower is accessible from a rough road and has power lines nearby. Over the years, the adjacent property owner has offered to buy the tower site. In 1993, Larry Ray, DCR's district fire chief, wrote a memo about the Brodie Mountain fire tower in which he noted: "We maintain high ground management of our tower sites which could bring substantial revenue to the Department." In a 1997 memo, John Motroni, DCR's high-ground manager wrote: "Although this is an old unmanned tower, it might have future value as a state police site or for future private users. We should maintain our access rights." On private land next to the fire tower is a large commercial telecommunications facility. A guy wire from that installation is anchored on DCR's one-acre parcel.       
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