Carmel Students Create Artistic Panels for Historic Kent Fire Tower

Members of the GFMS Go Green Club arrive at Mount Nimham fire tower with CAC Chair Beth Herr — Photo by Marty Collins

Members of Carmel’s George Fischer Middle School Go Green Club accepted a challenge by the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee to create four painted murals to replace the cab walls atop the historic 85-foot Mt. Nimham Fire Tower.  The fire tower was built in 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is the tallest fire tower still in existence in New York State.

Members of GFMS Go Green Club show off two of the four murals they painted for the Mount Nimham fire tower’s cabin — Photo by Marty Collins

The panels, each depicting a separate season of the year and featuring local flora and fauna, have been given protective coats of varnish and will have acrylic sheets attached to protect them from vandals who regularly cover the tower interior with graffiti. Before the colorful panels are installed, however, they will be presented to the Kent Town Board during the June 25 meeting in the Kent Town Hall.

A representative from Assemblywoman Sandy Galef’s office was present and presented the young artists with a Proclamation citing their hard work declaring the artwork, “Outstanding.”

GFMS Go Green Club receive a proclamation from Assemblywoman Sandy Galef — Photo by Marty Collins

KCAC Chiarwoman Beth Herr advertised the project in local newspapers. GFMS art teachers Amanda O’Shaughnessy and Jayne Chiappone responded and supervised the club’s 25-week long project which ran from October 2012 through May 2013. The KCAC has been charged with the care of the fire tower and its grounds and will initiate fundraising efforts to have the fire tower repainted and restored.