PAUL SMITHS – A nonprofit group continues to rehabilitate the nearly 100-year-old fire tower that sits atop one of the area’s most popular hikes.

Last week, Friends of St. Regis Mountain Fire Tower got help from forest rangers and a state police helicopter to bring in new materials and remove debris from last year’s construction efforts. The group is continuing work on the tower this week, putting up a new roof on the cabin of the 35-foot-tall structure.

The helicopter flew in and dropped off new parts for the roof, railings and fire tower cabin windows. The materials were airlifted from the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s maintenance center in Lake Clear.

The tower was originally constructed in 1918 and was the longest active fire watch station in the state before it was closed in 1990.