Marblehead Neck MR

Loc. 132 Marblehead Neck was a Fire Control and Radar site during WWII.

Site 1A

Site 1A in the 1940s. MHS

Site 1A in 2023.

1943 Elevation Drawing for Site 1A.

In 1943 the United States purchased the property of 291 Ocean Ave in Marblehead for $8,500. A five-story tower was completed in November 1943. It was built to look like part of the adjacent dwelling which was built in the 1888 and at the time was the barracks and mess for the personnel in the tower. The tower had elaborate faux windows and a peaked roof which still remain as of 2024. The tower has three observing levels. The fifth floor had a Depression Position Finder (DPF) for Battery Jewell, the fourth had an Azimuth Instrument (AI) for Battery 206, and the third had AI for Battery Murphy. The property was surplussed in 1952 and sold for $14,000 to a couple from Norwich CT. There have been many subsequent owners. Many original features still remained in this tower as of 2024. The pot belly stove, intact and functioning electrical system, telephone connection boxes and wires, and overall, the structure is in good shape. The current owners who were kind enough to let me in, are very aware of the tower's history and plan to make it a more usable space in the future.

Site 2A

1941 RCW for Site 2A.

Site 2A in 2023.

This three-story station was one of the most unique built in Boston. It was completed in 1941 and was designed to simulate a dwelling. Interestingly, the observing rooms were not built of reinforced concrete like most Fire Control Cottages, but rather the entire structure was wood and steel. This meant it would not have fared well if it was fired at. This station is just north of site 1A at what is now 310 Ocean Ave. The roof was AAIS OP 13, and the 3rd floor copula below was DPF for Battery Long. The second floor had DPF for Battery Gardener. This is probably one of the latest built unprotected FC Stations built in the US. It is now a private home and the only evidence it was ever a FC Station is the copula on the roof with the slit windows.

Site 3A

Site 3A 1940s GSA

At this time, I do not have much information about Site 3A. Based on the GSA disposal photo from the 1940s., the tower was six stories and haze painted. It had three observation levels, the top being for Battery 207 (DPF), the middle for Battery 105 (AI), and the lower was the secondary OP for Groupement 2 (AI). A SCR 296 Radar for Battery 206 was located near the tower on a steel girder tower. A concrete block transmitter building and two generator buildings with 25kw 120v AC signal corps generators were located near the base of the tower. There are no remains of any structures at this site. From the best I can tell, all remains were removed by 1969. One of the radar generator buildings may have survived until 1978 based on aerial photography but this is purely speculation.

SOURCES and REFERENCES

Marblehead Historical Commission

Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System

Coast Defense Study Group

American Forts Network

Report of Completed Works Loc. 132 USACE

HD Boston Annex 1945

National Geological Survey Map

GSA Disposal