PENNSYLVANIA LOOKOUTS
MARTIN HILL
Bedford County
Buchanan State Forest
Buchanan State Forest
1909: "A tower on the top of Martin Hill, south of the ranger's lodge, is a necessity. From here almost every portion of the reserve is visible. A suitable tower would not cost more than seventy-five dollars." (Report of the Department of Forestry, 1908-09)
1912: A tree observation post established 25 feet above the ground.
June 21, 1921: "On the top of Martin Hill, 3,096 feet high, another tower will enable the observer to locate forest fires in the territory bounded by the northern section of Bedford county. Sideling Hill mountain, northern Maryland, and the Allegheny mountains." (The Gazette - Bedford)
July 7, 1921: "A new steel fire tower atop Martin's Mountain will enable observers to locate forest fires in the territory as far away as the Northern section of Bedford County." (Cumberland Evening Times)
August 1921: "Maj. R.Y. Stuart, Deputy Commissioner of Forestry, has announced that 25 sites have been definitely fixed for forest fire observation towers that will be erected by the Department of Forestry this summer. Orders for 50 towers have been placed with the manufacturers. One of the first 18 towers will be put up at Martin Hill, Bedford county." (Forest Leaves, Vol. 18)
November 28, 1975: "A stolen car was recovered in Bedford County Wednesday afternoon, but not before it and four acres of underbrush around the Martin Hill fire tower were burned. State police said the 1975 Cadillac convertible valued at $9,000 had been stripped before it was set on fire; the blaze spread to the surrounding dry leaves. The car owned by Joseph V. Cavin of Pittsburgh has been stolen Tuesday, and driven from Pittsburgh to the isolated Martin Hill spot." (Bedford Daily Gazette)