On the tower site at ground level would be located a covered stand in which held a graduated glass cylinder for measuring the amount of rainfall, a wet/dry thermometer which, when read and referred to a table, would give the humidity, and a high/low thermometer for obtaining the high and low temperatures for the day. There was also a brass cylinder located in an open area for use in catching any rainfall, which would be measured. It was a duty of the towerman to record this information three times a day and to forward it to the control office. This normally was the chief ranger's office. As not all towers had direct contact to the chief ranger's office, it was necessary to have what was called a key tower. When this was the case, a number of towers would report to the key tower, who in turn, would be in contact with the office. We now have the weather station located at ground level and the cupola 85 or 100 feet above ground, which required at least four times a day that the towerman would make this climb. As stated before, the cupola, if square, had four sliding viewing windows, and if hexagonal, eight. Inside was located a generator, usually a chorehorse, which was used to charge the battery. The battery was required to operate the radio, whish was used to report the weather and advise of any smokes that might be seen. In the center of the tower was located the map table on which was located an azimuth, which is circular and marked in 360 degrees, as well as an alidade which was used for sighting. Just for clarification, the table came up to the same level as the bottom of the windows, and you could slide it backwards or forward to get around such obstructions as window frames. Also included with the tower equipment was a pair of binoculars. We mentioned earlier the trap doors, one located in the floor which gave access after the tower climb, and which when closed gave you some walking space. Then there was the trap door in the ceiling, which allowed the towerman to get up on the roof, if he was so inclined, to sun himself. Also on the roof was the radio antenna and the wind vein and cups used to get information on wind direction and velocity, which was shown on a meter located in the tower.

In later years the chorehorse was moved from the tower to the ground and cables were run up the tower to the battery, or the battery was also left on the ground and the cables were run up to the radio. This added another round trip up the ladder to start and stop the charger (chorehorse), but did give more space in the cupola and removed the noise of when it was running.

Having located the tower now its necessary to find a place for the towerman to live. Having located the tower on the highest place, we must now find the lowest place in order to give the towerman access to water and a lake of sufficient size that a service aircraft can land in order to bring in the necessary supplies. Okay, we are fortunate this time to find a suitable lake, although this was not always the case. In some cases there was a considerable distance involved from the nearest supply point to the cabin and from the cabin to the tower. Other sites were fortunate and you could drive to the tower base by vehicle each day. Some towermen did the stint from the middle of May to the middle of September on their own and might get out to town two or three times and others who stayed at home every night. The cabins were one room complete with cot, wood stove, table, lantern for light, and what ever else might be considered a necessity, often a radio, guitar, fishing equipment, and lots of reading material.

The tower was to be manned each and every day, that is 7 days a week from 8:30 to 4:00 during normal days. If the fire hazard was high they could end up on duty till 6:00 - 6:30. Actually the only time towermen were not required to be on duty was if there was rain or lightning and thunder in their area. Should there have been lightning then the day after the storm and for a few days more the towerman had to be really observant in case there were any lightning strikes that may have started a fire. These days the towerman usually was in the tower earlier before the wind got up. Other areas that required close observation in the earlier days were the areas where there were mining prospectors working, bush workers, canoe portages, and if there were any railways through their area. Earlier railway engines were fired with coal and would drop their ashes between the rails, which on occasion would bounce onto the right of way causing fires. The engines were later equipped with screens and the coals would be dumped at the water coal pick up stops. Still there were fires caused when clinkers would jam open the screens allowing the coals to fall straight through.

Towermen as you may well have figured out were a different breed. To give you an idea, some were trappers and would stay in the area year round trapping fur after the fire season. Some were students who felt they had to have a quiet place to study. There were many talents, more than one being able to play the guitar and some would play a mouth organ at the same time as well as stamp their feet in time. All were fairly good cooks and some excelled. They all had their favorite recipes and were more than willing to share.

From time to time they would be given special projects by the biologist such as trapping mice or collecting animal droppings which would be put in containers and sent on to the biologist. There were other programs such as during the cold war and the building of the early warning radar system across Canada's north. Towermen were asked to keep their eyes and ears open for aircraft that were flying in their areas. They were issued with a piece of clear plastic that had the out line of a single, and multi engine aircraft as well as having circles which they were to look at the aircraft through. If the aircraft fit in the smaller circle this indicated that it was so many miles away, the next larger a closer distance, and if it filled the larger circle it was pretty close. They were also to advise the direction it was heading. One question was if the aircraft was coming in low in their direction what were they to do? One answer given was report and gets the "h" out of the tower. And this wasn't the only story. One tower was visited by an American Colonel and the towerman were given the big story how their effort was required to keep all Canadians safe. After this they departed and later that evening after supper the towerman dozed off only to be awakened by voices. After the afternoon visit he was sure this was it, an invasion-taking place. Grabbing his 30/ 30 rifle he out the door and as he stated later was prepared to go down fighting. Once outside there were no voices so back in to the camp turned off his radio and called it a day.