Hartzfelt Mountain, a 2,405-foot peak in New York’s Southern Tier near Olean, once served as an important local observation point in the region’s forest-fire detection system. Planning for a lookout began in 1923, and in 1924 a 60-foot steel fire tower and observer’s cabin were built with support from local landowners and nearby towns. The site remained active for decades, later also supporting expanded two-way radio communications for law enforcement after state land purchases in 1967. Fire lookout service ended after the 1970 season as aerial detection became more common, and the tower was removed in 1973, marking a broader change in forest monitoring.