Morgan-Monroe State Forest
Encyclopedia
Morgan-Monroe State Forest is a state forest
in Morgan County
and Monroe County
of Indiana
, and is the second largest state forest in Indiana. The 24000 acres (97.1 km²) comprising this deciduous forest were abandoned farmland, as the previous residents realized that the land's rocky soil was very poor for agricultural purposes, which the state of Indiana purchased in 1929 to prevent further erosion and to create the state forest.
Indiana's first Civilian Conservation Corps
camp was in Morgan-Monroe State Forest in May 1933.
The fire tower for the forest is no longer usable, but in 1999 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
An AmeriFLUX/FLUXNET
tower, for the purpose of measuring water
, carbon dioxide
, and heat levels in a "Mixed Hardwood Ecosystem", is located within the forest. This tower is maintained by Indiana University
's Department of Geography.
Within the state forest is Stepp Cemetery, which dates back to the 19th Century. The cemetery is believed be haunted by a woman (the Black Lady) who lost her baby son in a tragic accident in the 1930s, and remains near the grave of her beloved child to this day. Some versions of the story claim the woman chases visitors. Some accounts also state that their dog's ghost also guards the baby's grave. Additionally, other versions of this story include dead teenager and roadworkers who will chase visitors. Paranormal investigators have captured orbs and EVPs in the cemetery.
Recreation activities include four hiking trails. Hunting in the state forest is for deer
, fox, ruffed grouse
, raccoon
, squirrel
, and turkey
. Another highlight is the Draper Cabin, which is one hundred years old and may be rented overnight.
Cherry Lake is noted for its fishing. Folklore states that it is due to the employees of former Indiana governors made sure to stock the lake so that when governors "held meetings" in a nearby cabin, there would be good fishing afterwards.
Morgan-Monroe State Forest, along with nearby Yellowwood State Forest
, are among the very few places in Indiana where one can pan for gold
and archaeological evidence, although a free permit is required first before doing any prospecting.
Indiana University's Morgan-Monroe Observatory is located in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
The location of the forest is at 39°19'16" N, 86°24'48"W.
State forest
A state forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign state.The precise application of the term varies by jurisdiction...
in Morgan County
Morgan County, Indiana
Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 68,894. The county seat is Martinsville. Morgan is one of seven counties contiguous to Marion County, and is located between Indianapolis, in Marion County, and Bloomington, located in Monroe County...
and Monroe County
Monroe County, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 137,974 people, 46,898 households, and 24,715 families residing in the county. The population density was 306 people per square mile . There were 50,846 housing units at an average density of 129 per square mile...
of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and is the second largest state forest in Indiana. The 24000 acres (97.1 km²) comprising this deciduous forest were abandoned farmland, as the previous residents realized that the land's rocky soil was very poor for agricultural purposes, which the state of Indiana purchased in 1929 to prevent further erosion and to create the state forest.
Indiana's first Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
camp was in Morgan-Monroe State Forest in May 1933.
The fire tower for the forest is no longer usable, but in 1999 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
An AmeriFLUX/FLUXNET
FluxNet
FluxNet is a global network of micrometeorological tower sites that use eddy covariance methods to measure the exchanges of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and energy between the biosphere and atmosphere. Fluxnet is a global 'network of regional networks' that serves to provide an infrastructure to...
tower, for the purpose of measuring water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
, carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
, and heat levels in a "Mixed Hardwood Ecosystem", is located within the forest. This tower is maintained by Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
's Department of Geography.
Within the state forest is Stepp Cemetery, which dates back to the 19th Century. The cemetery is believed be haunted by a woman (the Black Lady) who lost her baby son in a tragic accident in the 1930s, and remains near the grave of her beloved child to this day. Some versions of the story claim the woman chases visitors. Some accounts also state that their dog's ghost also guards the baby's grave. Additionally, other versions of this story include dead teenager and roadworkers who will chase visitors. Paranormal investigators have captured orbs and EVPs in the cemetery.
Recreation activities include four hiking trails. Hunting in the state forest is for deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, fox, ruffed grouse
Ruffed Grouse
The Ruffed Grouse is a medium-sized grouse occurring in forests from the Appalachian Mountains across Canada to Alaska. It is non-migratory.The Ruffed Grouse is frequently referred to as a "partridge"...
, raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
, squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
, and turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Another highlight is the Draper Cabin, which is one hundred years old and may be rented overnight.
Cherry Lake is noted for its fishing. Folklore states that it is due to the employees of former Indiana governors made sure to stock the lake so that when governors "held meetings" in a nearby cabin, there would be good fishing afterwards.
Morgan-Monroe State Forest, along with nearby Yellowwood State Forest
Yellowwood State Forest
Yellowwood State Forest, originally Beanblossom Land Utilization Project, is a state forest located in Brown County, Indiana, near the more famous Brown County State Park. The forest features seventeen different areas within Brown County, comprising in total...
, are among the very few places in Indiana where one can pan for gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and archaeological evidence, although a free permit is required first before doing any prospecting.
Indiana University's Morgan-Monroe Observatory is located in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
The location of the forest is at 39°19'16" N, 86°24'48"W.