Mt. Arab Fire tower in Adirondacks vandalized
Activists in the Tupper Lake area have restored and repopularized the Mount Arab fire tower, making it one of the more delightful destinations in the northern Adirondacks.
According to a statement issued by the Friends of Mt. Arab, the organization has suffered a major act of vandalism.
Here’s their statement:
On Sunday morning October 16, 2011 the cabin and tower on Mount Arab was subjected to an act of vandalism by two youths from the local area.
This vandalism was extensive and our initial estimates put the damage in the vicinity of $6000.
Here is some of the damage we have noted so far, and we may find more. The protective screens on the windows were cut open and the windows were smashed; their frames destroyed to the point that they will require complete replacement.
The cabin door was damaged and the lock requires replacement. Furniture within the cabin was damaged, tables smashed, cabinet destroyed, lanterns smashed, woodstove damaged and the information publications, displays, books and other materials enjoyed by visitors was scattered throughout the cabin, mixed in with the broken glass.
Signs and tower windows were spray painted. A bench with a memorial plaque was destroyed and we have still not found the backrest containing the brass plaque. The outhouse was also tipped over and damaged requiring repair.
Vandalism of this magnitude to a place into which over the course of many years we have invested your donations, countless hours of volunteer labor, and a great deal of heart and soul that has gone far to enhance the summit experience of you and thousands of others who have climbed Mount Arab makes absolutely no sense at all.
We are attempting to effect temporary repairs that will prevent further damage by the weather as quickly as possible. We are dependent right now upon available labor and material.
The vandals (minors) were arrested, confessed and charged, with a class D felony, given an appearance ticket to go to court in the future and returned to their families. As we understand it, these vandals have a long record of unlawful acts.
This is a major major setback to our finances and comes at a point where we were just starting to feel good about the next year’s activities. The required expenditure of such a large amount to repair this vandalism will seriously affect all of our activities especially our summit guide program and hamper normal trail, tower and cabin maintenance.
Anyone wanting to support the fire tower project, can contact them at this address: FOMA PO BOX 185 Piercefield, NY.
HAT TIP: Betsy Folwell at Adironadack Life.
Tags: adirondacks, criminal justice
Throw the book at these scum bags and make an example.
If the vandals were caught and charged, why are they not made to pay restitution for their acts? Will this be decided when they go back to court? We donate our money and time for projects that everybody can enjoy, and these kids just come up and destroy everything. Make an example of them, have them pay for the fixes, do community service or something. It doesn’t look like an appearance ticket is enough to keep these scum bags from doing it again.
To what extent are parents responsible for the actions of their children? At the very least a number of hours of community service should be required, not including drive (hike) time.
So sad. Brian, if you have a phone number for a FOMA contact, or info about possible workdays. Please post.
I agree with Scott, the vandals should pay for the repairs and perhaps even join in on the clean-up. It’s so sad that these two individuals who have a history of unlawful acts are still free to pillage and plunder at will. Make them accountable!
This story is a real bummer, first because of the damage done and the setback for the Friends of Mt. Arab, but also because the acts of these two kids reflect a frightening disconnect from the community. Why would they choose to do something like this? And what else are they capable of doing?
I agree that justice requires the vandals be made to pay (for at least part of) the restoration, but I also think it is important for them to play an active role in fixing the place. Hopefully, they could appreciate what goes into a project like this and think twice about tearing it down.
Danielle, I agree this is terrible but we can’t incarcerate kids for this type of crime. The parents should have these kids on a much shorter lead. If you have kids with this type of record and they have the kind of time to do this you are simply dropping the ball as a parent.
The clip indicates that the two were minors. It would be interesting to know how old they are. In my opinion, today’s youth is growing up much quicker than my generation, but conversely, is maturing at a later age.
As for the parents being responsible, you can’t have both ways. In today’s world, there are many things that a minor is allowed to do without their parents’ consent or knowledge. If you want the parents to be completely responsible, and I’m all for it, you need to consider how that relationship is already undermined.
If it were up to me, I wouldn’t allow either of the vandals to buy their way out of the issue. They would be there fixing/restoring what they destroyed.
Families are still responsible. But who knows what kind of families these two came from?
But anyway this really is too bad, two people can really put a dent in the efforts of many.
Part of their sentence should be to assist in repairing the damage they caused. Rich or poor, they can do manual labor.
In NYS a juvenile faces 4 years in prison for this crime. Personally I think this is pretty tough. Once they get in there they are probably lost forever. This is sad all around.
Fines and manual labor. They pay for repairs and work everyday along side the repairmen like rented mules untill the work is complete. Only then can they avoid jail time. These kids are already lost, so no concern there.
They should be made to labor for the State, even after the repairs are complete at Mt. Arab, for what would have been the term of their jail sentence had they not been minors, just to drive the point home in their peanut brains….. and they should realize and be thankfull this as an alternative to four years without freedom, family, school, if spent behind bars.
“lost forever”? boo hoo.
In Afghanistan what would have their penalty been. What body part would have been lost forever?
It would appear that these two are repeat offenders. I hope the judge takes this into consideration when their sentences are announced. I think monetary restitution and some jail time is in order. And actual manual labor would be appropriate as well.
“”lost forever”? boo hoo.””
Personally I think that losing something like this is unfortunate. Jack, you don’t. To bad for you.
When a child turns bad and is lost we all have lost something. This incident shows what the consequences are.
Thin the herd. Consequences grow exponentially. What is so unfortunate about loosing Two punks? The damage and the potential for future damage are what is unfortunate. The kids were bad before the incident, that’s why they perpertrated the act of aggression, destruction. The alternative will be that this incident will be a reference point on their rap sheet. Should we wait for their skills and theirmotives to escalate?
Boo Hoo indeed.
What have i lost if i’ve lost these punk kids?
My patience, not my integrity. Be proactive. They caine children in Thailang for keying cars, and spitting gum on the street.
Are we so advanced here in this country that this cry for attention from these little pea-heads warrant anything more than a beating?
Were there drugs, alcoholinvolved? I bet there was, and probly not pot or they would have robbed a stewart’s for munchies. If no drugs, or booze- even worse- they needed no stimulation to come up with this brainstorm of a great idea.
Please, you want to fix them? adopt the two, or foster care them on you’re tab. 150.00 an hour for therapyfor starters, plus zoloft, zanex,or whatever they’ll feed the little criminals to keep them numb–now there’s where the pot would come in handy.Word to the wise if you shelter these punks in your loving family- keep an eye on your pets.
pardon all the grammer and spelling errors, i’m angry.
If you’d like to help – I’m sure FOMA will appreciate whatever donation you can make (tax-free): to FOMA, P.O. Box 185, Piercefield, New York 12973.
If you’ve never been to this little gem, here’s a link to some photos: http://www.tupperlake.net/MtArab.htm