Ludlow Fire Tower
US 446, MA 4

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 446, MA 4 (view other lookouts in United States, Massachusetts)
Date Registered November 13, 2002
Nominated by John Matroni, Site Manager
Location Ludlow State Forest
Hampden County, Massachusetts
Coordinates N 42° 10.884' W 072° 25.837' (view using Google Maps)
N 42° 10' 53" W 072° 25' 50"
N 42.181400° W 072.430620°
Elevation 700 ft (213 m)
Administered by Mass. Bureau of Forest Fire Control
Cooperators Mass. Bureau of Forest Fire Control, District 11

Description

Located on Minechoag Mountain just east of Springfield, Ludlow Fire Tower is easily seen from the Massachusetts Turnpike. In 1936 the 50 acre Ludlow State Forest was purchased and tower construction begun by the CCC. The original 7’x7’ metal cab on the 60’ steel tower was replaced in 1967 with the Mass. 10’x10’ aluminum cab which was upgraded again in 1999. An urban/interface tower, it is in active service.

Map

Change Basemap

Visit Reports

April 17, 2016: Jack Kelley

Condition

Needs paint? No Response
Shutters OK? Yes
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? Yes
Good condition? Yes
Comments: The tower on the exterior looks good. However, it is surrounded by a chain link fence topped with barbed wire.

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? Yes
Comments: There is a fair amount of communication equipment on the tower, and a few buildings inside a chain link fence that surround the tower site.

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? No
Directions to tower signed? No
Comments? Despite being within the Ludlow State Park, the tower does not appear on trail maps and is relatively isolated.

Staffing

Staffed? Sometimes
Staffed seasonally.

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? No Response
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? No Response