Rambling the Southland and beyond.
US 851, AL 30
30.702260, -87.774990
Simerly Fire Tower was built in 1963.
It is located on Al hwy 59 South of Stapleton Al.
Thousands of people pass Simerly Tower every day traveling to and from the beaches in Southern Baldwin county al.
Simerly is the Southern most tower in Alabama.
It is a 100′ Aermotor MC-39 tower it replaced a 91′ creosote lookout tower.
If you have any info on this tower’s history please comment below.
https://rumble.com/vc6ktn-simerly-tower.html
Registry # US 853, AL 32
Blacksher Tower is located on Tower Road ESE of Uriah Alabama.
It is in Monroe County, Alabama
31°19’12.0″N 87°33’36.0″W
This tower was constructed in 1941.
Blacksher is a 120′ It is an International Derrick tower with 7’x7′ cab.
It was started by CC Camp 1485 and completed by the AFC.
Blacksher Tower near Uriah was last manned by Forest Rangers Ernest Johnson and Johnny Kline. Blacksher Tower was manned until around 1988.
The following information was graciously shared by his daughter of Mr Ernest Johnson, Judy Johnson Hendrix. “Ernest A. Johnson began working with the Forestry Commission as a forest patrolman at Blacksher Firetower in October, 1963. He retired in March, 1990 having reached the rank of forest ranger. My mother, Bendia Johnson, worked as the towerman that first fire season (fall and winter.) When it was not fire season, the state did not employ a towerman, the patrolman would man the tower. We lived in a four-room house (owned by the state) near the foot of the tower. When we first moved there, the only indoor plumbing was a cold water pipe to the kitchen sink. (We did eventually get an indoor bathroom.) Around 1985, the state decided to no longer maintain these houses, so my parents vacated the house. I have many fond memories growing up at Blacksher Firetower. I served as part-time towerman from the time I turned 16 until I graduated from high school, November, 1966 to June, 1969. My sister, Kathy Johnson Anthony replaced me.”
Mr Will McKinley served on it before then Mr Johnson.
If you have info on who served and what years please share in the comments below.
https://rumble.com/vc516d-blacksher-tower-12-23-20.html
Registry # US 854, AL 33
Wildfork Tower is located on the Monroe County Side of the Old Stage Road which is the county line.
31°21’13.3″N 87°20’10.0″W
According to he National Historic Registry it is one of the few remaining 120′ towers, Wildfork Lookout is an International Derrick model with sun visors on the cab. It started by the CCC and completed by AFC in 1941.
Wildfork Tower on the Old Stage Road was last manned by Forest Ranger Colbert Wright of Excel. Colbert retired in 1981 and the tower was closed due to budget restrictions.
If you have info on who worked and especially the years also on it please share in the comments below.
There are two videos linked below. One was shot in 2016 and the other one was shot in Dec 2020
https://rumble.com/vc2udp-wildfork-tower-dec-2020.html
Below is a video shot in 2016
https://rumble.com/vb22fz-wildforkold-stage-rd-fire-tower.html
Registry number US 873/ Al 50
Located off of Al 113 South of I65 in the Pineview Community of Escambia County, Al.
Mashmayer Lookout Tower. It is a 120′ metal tower with 7’x7′ cab built in 1938.
This photo and the corresponding video were shot on a windy afternoon in February of 2016 using a Chroma Drone.
If you have information on this tower please comment.
https://rumble.com/vb9fzp-mashmayer-fire-lookout-tower.html
Registry # US 895, AL 53
Brooks Tower is located in Conecuh County Al.
County Road 24
Red Level, Al 36474
31°26’24.0″N 86°43’12.0″W
The National Historic Registry states The original Brooks Fire Tower was a 100′ wooden tower. In 1962 the Alabama Forestry Commission replaced it with this 100; Aermotor MC-39 tower with 7’x7′ cab.
Photo and video were shot February of 2016 with a Chroma Drone.
This Tower is located outside of Bellville, Al.
Registry # US 862, Al 41
Built in 1942
It sits in Conecuh County just off of County Rd 15
31°27’36.0″N 87°06’00.0″W
It is listed on the National Historic Tower Registry as US 862, Al 41 as one of very few Aermotor L-1400 series towers, Belleville Lookout Tower was constructed in 1942 by the African-American CCC Camp P-76. It is 100′ tall with a 7’x7′ cab as was the last fire tower completed by the camp before closing during World War II.
Two video links below the picture. One Feb 2016 with Chroma Drone. Other shot Dec 2020 with a DJI Mavic Mini Drone.
https://rumble.com/vc2ns5-bellville-lookout-tower-dec-2020.html
Here is a video that was done in 2016
https://rumble.com/vb27k5-bellville-fire-tower-bellville-al.html
Reg #’s US 1490, AL 75
Fatama Tower is located on the West Side of Al 265 South of Camden Al
31.89248549137415, -87.23723497004855
100 foot steel tower. Construction started in Oct and finished November 1941 by Vrendeburgh CCC camp.
If you have information on this tower it would be greatly appreciated if you would sign into Rumble and comment on the video.Â
I did receive information that this is Al #33 on the official state list.
Fatama Tower was added to the National Historic Lookout Registry Jan 8, 2021.
Reg #’s US 1491, AL 76
Wallace Tower is located off of Al 41 a short driving distance South of where Hwy 41 crosses I65. Going south it is on the right hand side of the road.Â
31.232249557654747, -87.19303431514209
If you have information on this tower it would be greatly appreciated if you would sign into Rumble and comment on the video.Â
I did receive info that the tower is Al #62 on the official state list.
This tower was added to the National Historic Lookout Registry 1/8/2021.
