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In 1943 construction on a seven-floor tower on the South Side of Prouts Neck started in Scarborough Maine for the defense of Casco Bay during WW2. The tower had four observation levels and an Anti-Aircraft Post on top of the tower. It was designed to look like a lighthouse and is the most interesting tower built in Maine due to the strange design. The tower had many strange features including a balcony and four observation levels which is not usually found in a Fire Control tower. The seventh floor was used for Battery Steele at [[Peaks Island MR]], the sixth floor was used for Battery Foote at [[Fort Levett]], the fifth floor was used for Battery Cravens at [[Peaks Island MR]] and the fourth floor was used for Battery 201 at [[Cape Elizabeth MR]]. Searchlight #3 was located here. Many of these towers were located along Maines coast. The tower was in operation until 1945 when it was sold back to the town and sat unused. In 2004 a new property owner purchased the tower along with a house and wanted to demolish them. Despite the towns best efforts, the landowner had the full right to destroy the tower and onlookers watched as a massive crane knocked it down. No other tower in the US was built like this one. Today it is on private property and not open to the public.<gallery perrow="10">
Loc. 157 Prout's Neck was a WWII Fire Control site on Prout's Neck in Scarborough ME.
[[File:Prouts Neck Fire Control Tower Demolition.jpg|thumb|208x208px|Demolition 2004]]
File:Prouts Neck Tower Construction 1943.jpg|alt=Colorized J. Malcolm 2022|1943 Construction
[[File:Prouts Neck Fire Control Tower.jpg|left|thumb|224x224px|ca 1990s]]
File:View of the tower.jpg|alt=Colorized J. Malcolm 2022|Side Of The Tower
A seven story Fire Control Tower was built in 1943 on a .23-acre government owned parcel with four base-end stations for [[Peaks Island MR|Battery Steele]] (DPF), [[Fort Levett|Battery Foote]] (DPF), [[Peaks Island MR|Battery Cravens]] (DPF), and [[Cape Elizabeth MR|Battery 201]] (DPF). On the roof was AAIS OP 3. The tower was disguised as a lighthouse and is one of the more unique stations built in the country. A barracks for the crew was built behind the tower and on the shore was Searchlight #3. After the war the tower was sold off. The tower sat unused until 2004 when the property changed hands. The new owner wanted to demolish the tower and adjacent house. Despite the best efforts of the town, the tower was demolished later that year.
File:Main entrance PN.jpg|alt=Colorized J. Malcolm 2022|Tower Entrance
File:Back of Prouts Neck Tower.jpg|alt=Colorized J. Malcolm 2022|Rear Of The Tower
[https://web.archive.org/web/20260510125823/https://www.sunjournal.com/2004/11/01/destruction-begins-wwii-military-tower/ Article About the Towers Demolition]
File:Rear of Prouts Neck Tower.jpg|alt=Colorized J. Malcolm 2022|From the Road
File:1st Floor Prouts Neck.jpg|alt=Colorized J. Malcolm 2022|First Floor
=== SOURCES and REFERENCES ===
File:Prouts Neck Stairs PN.jpg|alt=Colorized J. Malcolm 2022|Stairs
</gallery>All images colorized by J. Malcolm 2022. Except the demolition pictures.
Research courtesy Prout's Neck Historical Society
[https://www.sunjournal.com/2004/11/01/destruction-begins-wwii-military-tower/ Article About the Towers Demolition]
[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland]]
[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland]]
Latest revision as of 07:58, 10 May 2026
Loc. 157 Prout's Neck was a WWII Fire Control site on Prout's Neck in Scarborough ME.
Demolition 2004ca 1990s
A seven story Fire Control Tower was built in 1943 on a .23-acre government owned parcel with four base-end stations for Battery Steele (DPF), Battery Foote (DPF), Battery Cravens (DPF), and Battery 201 (DPF). On the roof was AAIS OP 3. The tower was disguised as a lighthouse and is one of the more unique stations built in the country. A barracks for the crew was built behind the tower and on the shore was Searchlight #3. After the war the tower was sold off. The tower sat unused until 2004 when the property changed hands. The new owner wanted to demolish the tower and adjacent house. Despite the best efforts of the town, the tower was demolished later that year.
