Information
Names: Willow Valley
Location: Martin State Forest (once named Martin County State Forest)
County: Martin (other towers in Martin County are Shoals and the ones in Crane)
Topo quad: Huron
Condition: Standing; climbable up into the cab. It’s not in the best shape, but the view is great.
Maps of Willow Valley tower
Above: Huron topo quad, 1950
Links about Willow Valley tower
National Historic Lookout Register page for Willow Valley
Living New Deal page about Martin State Forest Fire Tower
NGS data sheet for mark WILLOW VALLEY LOOKOUT TOWER (JA1916)
Indiana County Survey Site ID: 101-289-20007 page, 004-289-07002
Data
| Coordinates | Latitude | Longitude |
| My coordinates (unofficial) | 38.69398 | -86.726546 |
| NHLR coordinates | N 38° 41.639′ | W 086° 43.593′ |
| NGS mark JA1916 (map) | 38 41 39.62811(N) | 086 43 36.84421(W) |
History of Willow Valley
This is from the county survey page: “The 1934 Dept. of Conservation Annual Report indicated that the CCC completed “1 lookout tower.” The CCC constructed fire towers on steel frameworks to help protect the new plantings and existing forests. The fire tower at Martin State Forest was completed in 1933″
This is from the other county survey page: “Martin State Forest acquired in 1933 and developed by Civilian Conservation Corps. (CCC). *1931 Department of Conservation Annual Report notes the construction of “a 100 foot steel tower at Willow Valley near Shoals.” However, the 1934 Annual Report indicated that among the work completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps was “one lookout tower.” Perhaps they finished it; in any case, they undoubtedly constructed the stone gateposts at the entrance leading to the tower.”
Personal pictures
