Fire Control Tower List

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Revision as of 13:50, 6 January 2025 by J. Malcolm (talk | contribs) (Updated minor issues with table.)
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This list is of all the WWII (or used during WWII) Fire Control Stations (FCS) in New England. Included here are Base-End Stations, Spotting Stations, and Group Observation Stations (Mines, Gun Groups, Groupement's). I have not decided to include Battery Commanders Stations or Command Posts unless it is a combined station. This table can be searched by using Control+F (PC) or Command+F (Mac) Please contact me with any questions or corrections.

Image
 Location Batteries Served Style Construction Date Notes Accesibility
Loc. 170 Fort Baldwin Battery Steele-Upper Square Tower - Five Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 10
  • Most Northern FC Station in New England
 Fort Baldwin State Historic Site - Open occasionally
Loc. 169 Small Point Square Tower - Six Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 9
  • Fire Control Switchboard
  • A temporary station was built here for the 155mm battery at Fort Baldwin
 Private Property
Loc. 168 Bailey Island - Site 1C Square Tower - Eight Stories 1943 Private Property
Loc. 168 Bailey Island - Site 1B Square Tower - Six Stories 1943
  • Site 1C housed a radar for Battery Steele and Anti-Aircraft OP 8
 Private Property
Loc. 167 Jewell Island - Site 1B Disguised as castle tower - Four Stories 1934
  • One of two Fire Control Stations built for Battery Foote pre-WWII. It also served Battery Bowdoin at Fort Levett and Battery Ingalls when first built.
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 7
 State Park
Loc. 167 Jewell Island - Site 1D Square Tower - Eight Stories 1943 State Park
Loc. 166 Long Island Circular Tower disguised as a standpipe - Seven Stories 1943
  • Radar located on the roof for Battery Carpenter and backup for Battery Ferguson.
  • Operations and generator building converted to homes.
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 6
 Private Property
Loc. 163 Peaks Island - Site 1G Mines II CP Cottage Side-by-Side - Three Stories 1943 Converted to residence
Loc. 163 Peaks Island - Site 1H Square Tower - Six Stories 1943 Peaks Island Land Preserve
Loc. 163 Peaks Island - Site 1I Square Tower - Six Stories 1943 Peaks Island LandPreserve
Loc. 163 Peaks Island - Site 1J Groupement 1 Command Post Stucco Side-by-Side - One Story 1909
  • Used for mortar batteries originally
 Ruins - Peaks Island Land Preserve
Loc. 163 Peaks Island - Site 2A
  • Secondary Mines II OP
 Square Tower - One Story 1943 Private Property
Loc. 161 Site 1B
 Loc. 161 Fort Levett - Site 1B Secondary Mines I OP-Upper & Lower Square Tower - Two Stories 1920-1942
  • Built on Battery Daniels 1920 CRF Station.
  • DPF pedestal remained on upper floor-now at McKinley
 Cushing Island Conservation Corporation - Island Residents Only
Loc. 161 Site 1E
 Loc. 161 Fort Levett - Site 1E Square Tower - Eight Stories 1943
  • Many original windows remaining.
 Cushing Island Conservation Corporation - Island Residents Only
Loc. 161 Site 1H
 Loc. 161 Fort Levett - Site 1H Square Tower - Eight Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 5 hanging off the back of the tower.
 Cushing Island Conservation Corporation - Island Residents Only
Loc. 161 Site 1J
 Loc. 161 Fort Levett - Site 1J
  • Gun-Group 1 Command-Upper
 Rectangular base w/ square tower - Two Stories 1943
  • Base of the station houses the G-1 Command Post which is larger than the station sitting atop it.
  • DPF mounting bolts drilled off.
 Cushing Island Conservation Corporation - Island Residents Only
Loc. 159 Site 1A
 Loc. 159 Trundy Point - Site 1A Steel Tower with concrete cab 1922
  • Only remaining steel tower North of New Jersey
  • Disguised as Fire Tower seen on mountains
  • One of two originally for Battery Foote
  • Steps to top partially removed for safety
 Private Property
Loc. 159 Site 1B
 Loc. 159 Trundy Point - Site 1B Square Tower - Eight Stories 1943
  • Sixth floor ladder removed
 Private Property
Loc. 158 Site 1B
 Loc. 158 Cape Elizabeth - Site 1B Cylindrical Tower to simulate silo - Six Stories 1943 Two Lights State Park
Loc. 158 Site 2A
 Loc. 158 Cape Elizabeth - Site 2A Built atop old lighthouse to simulate water tower - Two Stories 1874-1942
  • Built atop the Cape Elizabeth West Light
  • SCR 296 for Battery 201 on roof
  • Earlier 1925 station for Battery Kearny-Chase
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 4
 Private Property
Site 1A 1990s
 Loc. 157 Prouts Neck Square Tower w/ chamfered corners- Seven Stories 1943
  • Four observation levels
  • 6th floor balcony
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 3
 Razed 2004-Private Property
Site 1A 1940s
 Loc. 156 Fletchers Neck Square Tower - Six Stories w/ Two Story cottage surrounding. 1943
  • Disguised as church or school
  • Location of the station is still evident by depression in the ground
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 2
 Razed 195?-Private Property
Site 1A 1945
 Loc. 155 Cape Porpoise Cylindrical Tower - Eight Stories 1942
  • Disguised as windmill?
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 1 HD Portland
 Razed 1949-Private Property
Site 1A 1946
 Loc. 154 Gelaspus Point Square Tower with chamfered top level - Five Stories w/ 1 1/2 Story wooden cottage 1943
  • Disguised as belltower or church?
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 13
 Razed 1949-Private Property
Site 1A
 Loc. 153 Moody Point Square Tower - Three Stories w/ 2 1/2 Story wooden cottage. 1943
  • Disguised as cottage
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 12
 Private Property
Site 1A 1963
 Loc. 152 Bald Head Cliff Square Tower - Three Stories w/ 2 1/2 Story wooden cottage. 1943
  • Disguised as cottage
  • Building disguised as garage had a well and tank
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 11
 Razed 1964-Overbuilt
Site 1A
 Loc. 151 Cape Neddick Square Tower - Two Stories w/ One Story wooden cottage 1943
  • Disguised as cottage
  • Building disguised as garage had FC switchboard
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 10
 Heavily altered 2001-Private Property
Site 1A 1970s
 Loc. 150 Seal Head Point Square Tower - Three Stories w/ a 2 1/2 Story wooden cottage 1943
  • Disguised as large seaside home
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 9
 Razed 1979-Private Property
Loc. 149 Sisters Point Square Tower - Five Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 8 in a rear balcony
  • SCR 296 for Battery 205 nearby on steel girder tower
 Razed 2004-Private Property
Site 2B
 Loc. 148 Fort Foster
  • Secondary Mines I OP-West
  • Mine Group I OP-East
 Rectangular Tower - Three Stories 1942
  • MG1 Command Post on second floor
 Fort Foster Park - Converted to restrooms 1970s
Site 1A
 Loc. 141 Appledore Island Square Tower - Seven Stories 1944
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 6
  • SCR 296 for Battery Seaman on roof. Operations and generators on first two floors
 Joint UNH Cornell Radio Tower - No access
Site 1B
 Loc. 147 Fort Constitution Mines I-Upper Square Tower - Two Stories 1942
  • Mines I Plotting room on first floor
  • HD OPS 2 from 1942-44
  • Built on Battery Farnsworth
 Entire battery is UNH storage and fenced off
Site 1D
 Loc. 145 Fort Stark HD OPS 2-Upper Unusual design "modernistic building"-Three Stories 1943
  • Combined with the HECP/HDCP built on Battery Kirk
 Fort Stark State Historic Site - Fenced off
Site 1A
 Loc. 144 Frost Point - Fort Dearborn Rectangular Side-By-Side - One Story 1943 Odiorne Point State Park-Open to public
Site 2A
 Loc. 142 Pulpit Rock Cylindrical Tower - Eight Stories 1942
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 7
  • Manned through WWII
  • Used by Navy Post War and Fish and Game
 Open twice a year by FOPRT
Site 1A 1987
 Loc. 139 Rye Ledge Square Tower - Three Stories w/ a 2 1/2 Story wooden cottage 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 5
  • Heavily renovated 1967
 Razed 2007-Private Property
Site 1A
 Loc. 138 Great Boars Head Square Tower with slightly chamfered edges - Six Stroies 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 4
  • Used by MIT Lincoln Labs for SAGE in the 50s-60s
 Private Property
Loc. 137B Salisbury Beach Square Tower - Three Stories w/ 2 1/2 Story wooden cottage. 1943
  • Disguised as cottage
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 3
 Razed 1958 - Public Beach
Site 1A 1950s
 Loc. 137A Plum Island Square Tower on legs - One Story 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 2
  • Leased from Fish and Wildlife Service 1942
  • Used to store explosives by Mass National Guard 1950s
 Razed 1953 - section of dunes where the station was is off limits
Site 1A from 1944 RCW
 Loc. 137 Castle Hill Two Story Cottage 1944
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 1 HD Portsmouth
  • Well shelter built behind station
 Razed 1948 - Trustees of Reservations park
Site 1A
 Loc. 136 Halibut Point Square Tower with chamfered top level - Five Stories w/ 1 1/2 Story wooden cottage 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 18
  • Used by MIT Lincoln Labs for SAGE 1950s-60s
  • Became State Park HQ 1980
 Halibut Point State Park - Open on Weekends
Site 1A
 Loc. 135 Emerson Point Cylindrical Tower - Six Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 17
 Private Property
Loc. 134A Eastern Point Rectangular Tower - Three Stories w/ Two Story wooden cottage 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 16
  • Converted to residence
 Private Property
Loc. 134 Coolidge Point Square Tower - Five Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 15
  • Barracks combined with house to make residence 1974
 Private Property
Loc. 133 Gales Point Square Tower with top two levels chamfered - Ten Stories 1944
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 14
  • SCR 296 on roof Battery Murphy
  • Converted to upscale residence 1970s and 90s
 Private Property
Loc. 132 Site 1A
 Loc. 132 Marblehead Neck - Site 1A Square Tower w/ Peaked roof - Five Stories 1943
  • Excellent condition w/ functional light system
 Private Property
Loc. 132 Site 2A
 Loc. 132 Marblehead Neck - Site 2A Wooden Cottage - Three Stories 1941
  • Converted to private residence
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 13
 Private Property
Loc. 132 Site 3A 1940s
 Loc. 132 Marblehead Neck - Site 3A Square Tower - Six Stories 1943 Razed 195? - Private Property
Loc. 131 East Point - Site 1A Square Tower - Eight Stories
 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 12
 Private property
Loc. 131 East Point - Site 2A Square Tower - Eight Stories 1943
  • Identical to 1A
 Private Property
Loc. 131 East Point - Site 4A Square Tower - Six Stories 1943 Private Property
Loc. 131 East Point - Site 5A Cottage - Two Stories 1943 Razed 195? - Private Property
Loc. 130 Fort Ruckman Square Tower - Six Stories w/ a Single Story cottage at the rear 1942
  • Groupement 2 CP in wooden cottage
  • Private Residence
 Private Property
Loc. 129 Fort Heath Battery McCook Three Station Endicott Side-by-Side Station - One Story 1901-1907

Splinterproofed 1943

  • Modernized Endicott station
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 11 in sandbagged position front of station
 Razed 1950s - Fort Heath Park
Loc. 127 Fort Dawes - Site 1C Manhole Station - One Story 1924 Razed 1988-92 - Overbuilt by MWRA
Loc. 127 Fort Dawes - Site 1D Battery 207 BC Manhole Station - One Story 1924
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 10
 Razed 1988-92 - Overbuilt by MWRA
Loc. 127 Fort Dawes - Site 1E Gun Group 4 OP & CP Rectangular Station w/ Semi-Circle front 1942
  • In HECP
 Razed 1988-92 - Overbuilt by MWRA
Loc. 127 Fort Dawes - Site 1G Battery 105 BC Manhole Station - One Story 1924 Razed 1988-92 - Overbuilt by MWRA
Loc. 127 Fort Dawes - Site 1H Battery 207 Manhole Station - One Story 1924 Razed 1988-92 - Overbuilt by MWRA
Loc. 127 Fort Dawes - Site 1I Side-by-side w/ earth berm - One Story 1907 - rebuilt 1943
  • New concrete station built on foundation of 1907 station 1944
 Razed 1988-92 - Overbuilt by MWRA
Loc. 126 Outer Brewster Rectangular Side-By-Side Manhole Station - One Story 1943 Boston Harbor Islands National Park - Open to public
Loc. 124 Great Brewster
  • Mines II Secondary Station
 Manhole Station -One Story 1944
  • Toppled by Navy Ordnance crew
 Toppled 1970s - Boston Harbor Islands National Park
Loc. 123 Fort Standish Square Tower on legs - One Story 1943 Boston Harbor Islands National Park - Open to public
Loc. 122 Fort Strong
  • Mines II Battery Command Station
 Side-by-Side split level station - classic Endicott design - One Story 1906?

rebuilt 1940s?

  • Located next to Battery Drum
  • Built inside the former double mine op and in 1938 MBC 2 and plotting rooms
 Razed 1960s - Closed to public
Loc. 121 Fort Warren - Site 1A
  • Gun Group 5 OP & CP
 Square Tower - Two Stories 1903

top level rebuilt 1943

  • Originally for Battery Adams then converted to the Fort Signal Station ca. 1920
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 8
  • Signal Station on first floor
  • Gun Group 5 was for the mines
 Closed to public
Loc. 121 Fort Warren - Site 1B
  • Mines I OP
  • Mines I Primary
 Square Tower - One Story 1942
  • Built on the site of a 1908 double mine station
 Open to public
Loc. 120 Point Allerton - Site 1B Large Cottage - Four Stories 1926 modernized 1942
  • Replaced and earlier station after fire
  • SCR 682 on roof
 Razed 1978 - Private Property
Loc. 120 Point Allerton - Site 1C Rectangular Side-By-Side - One Story 1943
  • Garage design
 Razed 1978 - Private Property
Loc. 120 Point Allerton - Site 1D Square Tower with top two levels chamfered - Seven Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 7
 Private Property
Site 1C
 Loc. 119 Fort Revere
  • Mines I Secondary Station
 Manhole Station with rear entrance - One Story ca. 1920
  • Camouflage paint still on exterior
  • Used by Navy postwar
 Private Property but wide open
Loc. 117 Fort Andrews Square Tower - One Story 1944
  • Very good condition-hard to locate
 Boston Harbor Islands National Park - Open to public
Loc. 116 Strawberry Point Square Tower on legs - One story 1943
  • Built in berm of 1907 station
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 6
 Razed ca. 1951 - Private Property
Loc. 115 Site 1A
 Loc. 115 Strawberry Point - Site 1A Square Tower - Eight Stories


1943
  • Sealed with concrete
  • Anti-Aircraft OP
 Private Property
Loc. 115 Site 1B
 Loc. 115 Strawberry Point - Site 1B Cottage - Three Stories 1944
  • Converted to Residence
  • Groupement 2 CP
 Private Property
Loc. 115 Site 1C
 Loc. 115 Strawberry Point - Site 1C Steel Tower - Two Story Cab 1941
  • Dismantled 1948
  • Had Anti-Aircraft OP until 1943
 Dismantled 1948 - Private {rp[erty
Loc. 115 Site 1D
 Loc. 115 Strawberry Point - Site 1D Cottage - Two Stories 1943
  • Converted to Residence
 Private Property
Loc. 114 Fourth Cliff - Site 1A Cottage - Three Stories
  • Gun Group 1 CP on first floor
  • Restored 2020
 Private Property - Hanscom recreation area
Loc. 114 Fourth Cliff - Site 1B Manhole - One Story w/ One Story wooden cottage on roof
  • Built atop Battery 208
  • Wooden cottage removed
 Private Property - Hanscom recreation area
Loc. 114 Fourth Cliff - Site 1C Square Tower - Five Stories w/ One Story wooden cottage attached
  • Wooden cottage removed 1990s
 Private Property - Hanscom recreation area
Loc. 112 - Brant Rock Square Tower - Eight Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 3
  • Converted to residence 1970s - now being restored
 Private Property
Site 1A ca. 1995
 Loc. 111 - Gurnet Point Square Tower with attached generator room - three Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 2 HD Boston
  • Middle level used for USCG observation
  • Located atop a rampart of old Fort Andrew
 Razed 1998 - Open to public
Loc. 59 Gayhead - Site 1A Manhole Station - One Story 1942
  • Station buried to roof w/ viewing platform built around
 Aquinnah Cliffs - Buried w/ no access
Loc. 59 Gayhead - Site 2 Manhole Station - One Story 1942
  • Fell to beach 1970s
 Aquinnah Cliffs - Could be rubble by now
Loc. 58 Naushon Island - Site 1A Manhole Station - One Story 1942
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 6
  • Barracks foundation adjacent to station
 Private Property
Loc. 58 Naushon Island - Site 2A Manhole Station - One Story 1942
  • Support building foundations remain nearby
 Private Property
Loc. 58 Naushon Island - Site 2B Manhole Station - One Story 1942
  • Support building foundations remain nearby
 Private Property
Loc. 57 Cuttyhunk Island - Site 1A
  • Spare
 Manhole Station - One Story ?
  • It is unknown to the author if this station was actually built
 Cuttyhunk Island Town Land - Open to public
Loc. 57 Cuttyhunk Island - Site 1B Manhole Station - One Story 1942 Cuttyhunk Island Town Land - Sealed 2021
Loc. 57 Cuttyhunk Island - Site 1C Manhole Station - One Story 1942 Cuttyhunk Island Town Land - Sealed 2021
Loc. 57 Cuttyhunk Island - Site 1D Manhole Station - One Story 1942 Cuttyhunk Island Town Land - Sealed 2021
Loc. 57 Cuttyhunk Island - Site 1E Manhole Station - One Story 1942 Cuttyhunk Island Town Land - Sealed 2021
Loc. 57 Cuttyhunk Island - Site 2A Manhole Station - One Story 1942
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 5
  • Still has DPF pedestal
  • Switchboard and powerhouse nearby
  • Observation deck built on roof
 Lookout Park - No access to interior
Loc. 58A West Island Square Tower - Not separated by floors until top 1943
  • Sealed up
  • Disguised as lighthouse
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 3
 West Island Town Beach - Open to public
Loc. 55 Fort Rodman
  • Harbor Defense Observation Station & Gun Group 2 OP
 Manhole - One Story 1943
  • On top of Battery Milliken
 Fort Taber Park - Open to public
Loc. 51 Mishuam Point Cottage 1943
  • One level incorporated into a home
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 2
 Any remains demolished 2008 - Private Property
Loc. 51 Gooseberry Island - Site 1B Cottage - Three Stories 1942 Gooseberry Neck Reservation - Open to Public
Loc. 51 Gooseberry Island - Site 1D Square Tower - Not separated by floors until top 1942
  • Disguised as lighthouse
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 1 HD New Bedford
 Sealed - Gooseberry Neck Reservation
Loc. 51 Gooseberry Island - Site 1E Cottage - Three Stories 1943 Razed 1978 - Gooseberry Neck Reservation
Loc. 49 Warren Point - Site 1A Cottage - Two Stories 1943
  • Gun Group 3 OP & CP in 1943
  • Razed 2019
  • SCR 296 on a steel tower for Battery 212 nearby
 Razed 2019 - Private Property
Loc. 49 Warren Point - Site 1B Cottage - Three Stories 1942
  • Originally Groupement 2 OP & CP
  • Groupement 3 CP on first floor
  • Anti-Aircraft OP ?
 Razed 1970 - Private Property
Loc. 46 Site 1A 1976
 Loc. 46 Sauchest Point - Site 1A Cottage - Three Stories 1943
  • Disguised as farmhouse
 Razed ca. 1981 Sachuest Point Refuge -Open to public
Loc. 46 Site 1B 1974
 Loc. 46 Sauchest Point - Site 1B Barn - Three Stories 1942
  • Anti-Aircraft OP ?
 Razed ca. 1980 Sachuest Point Refuge -Open to public
Loc. 46 Site 1C 1981
 Loc. 46 Sauchest Point - Site 1C Cylindrical Tower - Four Stories 1942
  • Disguised as silo
 Razed ca. 1981 Sachuest Point Refuge -Open to public
Loc. 43 Site 1D
 Loc. 43 Fort Wetherill - Site 1D Mines I Primary OP Manhole - One Story 1922
  • Originally B' Battery Dickenson
 Open to public - Fort Wetherill State Park
Loc. 43 Site 1E 1991
 Loc. 43 Fort Wetherill - Site 1E Mines II Secondary OP Side-by-Side split level station - classic Endicott design - One Story 1909
  • Originally Double Mine Primary
 Burned 1996 - Fort Wetherill State Park
Loc. 41 Site 1C
 Loc. 41 Fort Burnside - Site 1C
  • Gun Group 3 OP, Gun Group 4 OP, Groupement 2 OP, Battery 213 BC - Upper
  • HECP HDOP - Lower
 Seaside Farmhouse - Three Stories 1943
  • HECP Facility
  • G4 CP
  • G3 CP
  • C2 CP
 Closed to public - Beavertail State Park
Loc. 40 Prospect Hill - Site 1A
Loc. 40 Prospect Hill - Site 1C
Loc. 36 The Bonnet
Loc. 35 Fort Varnum - Site 1A
Loc. 35 Fort Varnum - Site 1B
Loc. 35 Fort Varnum - Site 1C
Loc. 35 Fort Varnum - Site 1D
Loc. 34 Fort Greene - Site 2C
Loc. 33 Fort Greene - Site 1B
Loc. 33 Fort Greene - Site 1C
Loc. 33 Fort Greene - Site 1D
Loc. 32 Green Hill - Site 1A
Loc. 32 Green Hill - Site 1B
Loc. 32 Green Hill - Site 1C
Loc. 31 Charlestown
Loc. 29 Noyes Point - Site 1A
Loc. 29 Noyes Point - Site 1B
Loc. 27 Watch Hill - Site 1A
Loc. 27 Watch Hill - Site 1B
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