Bald Mountain, a 1,647-foot summit in Croghan, Lewis County, New York, became notable as one of the state’s former fire observation points. A wooden lookout built in 1911 was replaced in 1919 by a 47-foot steel tower that served in New York’s forest fire detection network until 1970, when aerial detection proved more effective. Afterward, the surrounding property passed into private ownership, and the tower was pulled down because of liability concerns. An agreement in 1989 preserved public recreation access while keeping the land and timber private. Although the summit no longer offers a view, Bald Mountain remains significant for its role in the history of forest fire detection.