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Blacksher Tower

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

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Wildfork Tower

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

Wildfork Lookout Tower

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

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Brooks Tower


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.

https://rumble.com/vbj7o9-brooks-fire-tower-mckenzie-al.htm

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Bellville Fire tower

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

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Fatama Tower

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. 

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.

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https://rumble.com/vbjxvb-fatama-tower.html

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Wallace Tower

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. 

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. 

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.

https://rumble.com/vb054z-wallace-fire-tower.html

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Soybean Harvest

There are still a few farmers in Monroe County Alabama that produce Soybeans. I recently had the opportunity to do a video of this John Deere Combine running out from Frisco City Alabama.

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Indian Springs Baptist Church

I recently had the opportunity to visit Indian Springs Baptist Church in North Monroe County Al.

Indian Springs Baptist Church was built about 1825 near springs used by the local Indians. This original wood framed building has survived virtually unchanged with no modern conveniences.

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Peanut Harvest 2020

Here we see a John Deere Tractor pulling a peanut combine gathering peanuts. It then dumps the peanuts into the nut buggy which hauls them to the waiting trailer which will carry them to the peanut storage facility.

This operation was happening near Megargle Al.

I hope you enjoy the video.