Reg #’s US 850, AL 29
31.786054, -87.335826
Lookout Hill Tower was built by a junior African-American Company 4435 at CCC camp P-76 in 1939, Lookout Hill Fire Tower is a 100′ MC-39 tower with 7’x7′ cab.
Of all of the towers that I have had the privilege of of filming and documenting this one holds a special significance for me.
My Grandfather Will Knight worked for the Alabama Forestry Commission from 1933 till 1966. In the latter years that he worked he was tower man on this tower.
As a child I would often times get to come out and sit on this tower with him on Sunday afternoons. It holds many memories for me of good times with my grandfather.
The last time I got to climb this tower was in 1983. that day it was locked and I did not get to go into the cab.
In the very 1950’s and very early 1960’s there was a family that lived at the tower and manned it by the last name of Findley. To the best of my knowledge they were the last family to live in the house that was at the base of the tower.
The tower site is part of the Red Hills land management area for the Red Hills Salamander. The area referred to as The Red Hills is probably about 5 air miles to the west. The entire area is named after the color of the soil, predominantly red clay gravel. The Red Hills Salamander is a threatened species of Amphibian salamander. The salamander habitat begins in southeastern Wilcox County and ends in Western Butler County.
Quoting Mr Gary Cole “I was the last tower man at Lookout Hill. I was the Forest Ranger assigned to north Monroe County beginning in June of 1976. I manned the tower until 1982 when I became the County Forestry Supervisor. Jane Ellen Briggs was the tower person before I started. Her husband was the Forest Patrolman.”
The house at the base of the tower was torn down prior to 1976.
https://rumble.com/ve6dp5-lookout-hill-fire-tower.html
Here is a video I did of this tower in Feb of 2016.
https://rumble.com/vbktff-lookout-hill-fire-tower-and-more.html