Fire Control Tower List

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Revision as of 21:17, 14 December 2024 by J. Malcolm (talk | contribs) (Completed HD New Bedford entries)
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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. Please contact me with any questions or corrections.

Image
 Location Batteries Served Style Construction Date Notes Accesibility
Fort Baldwin ME 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
Small Point ME 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
Bailey Island ME Site 1C:

Site 1B:

Site 1C: Square Tower - Eight Stories

Site 1B: Square Tower - Six Stories

1943
  • Site 1C housed a radar for Battery Steele and Anti-Aircraft OP 8
 Private Property
Jewell Island ME Site 1D:

Site 1B:

Site 1D: Square Tower - Eight Stories

Site 1B: Disguised as castle tower - Four Stories

Site-1D: 1943

Site: 1B: 1934

  • Site 1B was one of two Fire Control Stations built for Battery Foote pre-WWII. It also served Battery Bowdin at Fort Levett and Battery Ingalls when first built.
  • Site 1B Anti-Aircraft OP 7
 Public Park
Long Island ME 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
Peaks Island ME Site 1G:
  • Mines II CP

Site 1H:

Site 1I:

Site 1J:

  • Groupement 1 Command Post

Site 2A:

  • Secondary Mines II OP
 Site 1G:
  • Cottage Side-by-Side - Three Stories

Site 1H

  • Square Tower - Six Stories

Site 1I:

  • Square Tower - Six Stories

Site 1J:

  • Stucco Side-by-Side (1909) - One Story

Site 2A:

  • Square Tower - One Story
 1942-43 1909 stucco station used for mortar batteries and heavily renovated over time.

Anti-Aircraft Observation Post. Fire Control Switchboard Groupement Command Post was situated inside the stucco station from 1909 but supposedly in 1943 a concrete square tower was built?

All Stations private property or sealed
Site 1B
Site 1E
Site 1H
Site 1J
 Cushings Island ME Site 1B:
  • Secondary Mines I OP-Upper & Lower

Site 1E:

Site 1H:

Site 1J:

  • Gun-Group 1 Command-Upper
 Site 1B:
  • Square Tower - Two Stories

Site 1E:

  • Square Tower - Eight Stories

Site 1H:

  • Square Tower - Eight Stories

Site 1J:

  • Rectangular base w/ square tower** - Two Stories
 1942-44 Site 1B:
  • Built on Battery Daniels 1920 CRF Station.

Site 1E:

  • Many original windows remaining.

Site 1H:

  • Anti-Aircraft OP 5 hanging off the back of the tower.

Site 1J:

  • **Base of the station houses the G-1 Command Post which is larger than the station sitting atop it.
  • DPF bolts drilled off.
 Cushings Island is private
Site 1A
Site 1B
 Trundy Point ME Site 1A

Site 1B

Site 1A
  • Steel Tower with concrete cab

Site 1B

  • Square Tower - Eight Stories
 Site 1A
  • 1922

Site 1B

  • 1943
 Site 1A
  • 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

Site 1B

  • Sixth floor ladder removed
 Both towers open to public
Site 1B
Site 2A
 Cape Elizabeth ME Site 1B

Site 2A

Site 1B

Cylindrical Tower to simulate silo - Six Stories

Site 2A

Built atop old lighthouse to simulate water tower - Two Stories

Site 1B

1943

Site 2A

1874-1942

Site 1B

Site 2A

  • 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
 Both closed to the public at this time.
Site 1A 1990s
 Prouts Neck ME 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
 Biddeford Pool ME 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
 Cape Porpoise ME Cylindrical Tower - Eight Stories 1942
  • Disguised as windmill?
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 1 HD Portland
 Razed 1949-Private Property
Site 1A 1946
 Gelaspus Point ME 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
 Moody Point ME Square Tower - Three Stories w/ 2 1/2 Story wooden cottage. 1943
  • Disguised as cottage
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 12
 Private Property
Site 1A 1963
 Bald Head Cliff ME 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
 Cape Neddick ME 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
 Seal Head Point ME 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
Sisters Point ME 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
 Kittery ME
  • 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
 Appledore Island ME 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
 New Castle NH 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
 New Castle NH Site 1A

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
 Frost Point Rye NH Rectangular Side-By-Side - One Story 1943 Odiorne Point State Park-Open to public
Site 2A
 Rye NH 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
 Rye NH 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
 Hampton NH 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
Salisbury MA 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
 Plum Island MA 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
 Ipswitch MA Two Story Cottage 1944
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 1 HD Portsmouth
  • Well shelter built behind station
 Razed 1948 - Trustees of Reservations park
Site 1A
 Rockport MA 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
 Rockport MA Cylindrical Tower - Six Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 17
 Private Property
Gloucester MA Rectangular Tower - Three Stories w/ Two Story wooden cottage 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 16
  • Converted to residence
 Private Property
Manchester MA Square Tower - Five Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 15
  • Barracks combined with house to make residence 1974
 Private Property
Manchester MA 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
Site 1A
Site 2A
Site 3A 1940s
 Marblehead MA Site 1A:

Site 2A:

Site 3A:

Site 1A:Square Tower w/ Peaked roof - Five Stories

Site 2A:

Wooden Cottage - Three Stories

Site 3A:

Square Tower - Six Stories

Site 1A:

1943Site 2A:

1941

Site 3A:

1943

Site 1A:
  • Excellent condition w/ functional light system

Site 2A:

  • Converted to private residence
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 13

Site 3A:

No remains at 3A - All Private Property
Nahant MA Site 1A:

Site 2A:

Site 4A

Site 5A:

Site 1A:Square Tower - Eight Stories

Site 2A:

Square Tower - Eight Stories

Site 4A

Square Tower - Six Stories

Site 5A:

Cottage - Two Stories


1943 Site 1A:
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 12

Site 2A:

  • Identical to 1A

Site 4A

Site 5A:

  • Disguised as cottage
  • Razed 1950s
 All on private property
Nahant MA Square Tower - Six Stories w/ a Single Story cottage at the rear 1942
  • Groupement 2 CP in wooden cottage
  • Private Residence
 Private Property
Winthrop MA 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
Deer Island, Winthrop MA Site 1C:

Site 1D:

Site 1E:

  • Gun Group 4 OP & CP

Site 1G:

Site 1H:

Site 1I:

Site 1C:Manhole Station - One Story

Site 1D:

Manhole Station - One Story

Site 1E:

Rectangular Station w/ Semi-Circle front

Site 1G:

Manhole Station - One Story

Site 1H:

Manhole Station - One Story

Site 1I:

Side-by-side w/ earth berm - One Story

Site 1C:1924

Site 1D:

1924

Site 1E:

1942

Site 1G:

1924

Site 1H:

1924

Site 1I:

1907 - rebuilt 1943

Site 1C:

Site 1D:

  • Anti-Aircraft OP 10

Site 1E:

  • In HECP

Site 1G:

Site 1H:

Site 1I:

  • New concrete station built on foundation of 1907 station 1944
 All razed 1988-92 - Overbuilt by MWRA
Outer Brewster Island MA Rectangular Side-By-Side Manhole Station - One Story 1943 Boston Harbor Islands National Park - Open to public
Great Brewster Island MA
  • Mines II Secondary Station
 Manhole Station -One Story 1944
  • Toppled by Navy Ordnance crew
 Toppled 1970s - Boston Harbor Islands National Park
Lovells Island MA Square Tower on legs - One Story 1943 Boston Harbor Islands National Park - Open to public
Long Island MA
  • Mines II Battery Command Station
 Side-by-Side split level station - classic Endicott design 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
Georges Island MA Site 1A:
  • Gun Group 5 OP & CP

Site 1B:

  • Mines I OP
  • Mines I Primary
 Site 1A:Square Tower - Two Stories

Site 1B:

Square Tower - One Story

Site 1A:1903

top level rebuilt 1943 Site 1B:

1942

Site 1A:
  • 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

Site 1B:

  • Built on the site of a 1908 double mine station
 Site 1A:Closed to public

Site 1B:

Open to public

Hull MA Site 1B:

Site 1C:

Site 1D:

Site 1B:Large Cottage - Four Stories

Site 1C:

Square Tower with top two levels chamfered

Site 1D:

Square Tower with top two levels chamfered - Seven Stories

Site 1B:1926

Site 1C:

1943

Site 1D:

1943

Site 1B:
  • Replaced and earlier station after fire
  • SCR 682 on roof
  • Razed 1978

Site 1C:

  • Garage design
  • Razed 1978

Site 1D:

  • Anti-Aircraft OP 7
 All Private Property
Site 1C
 Hull MA
  • 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
Peddocks Island MA Square Tower - One Story 1944
  • Very good condition-hard to locate
 Boston Harbor Islands National Park - Open to public
Hull MA Square Tower on legs - One story 1943
  • Built in berm of 1907 station
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 6
 Razed ca. 1951 - Private Property
Site 1A
Site 1B
Site 1C 1945 GSA
Site 1D
 Scituate MA Site 1A:

Site 1B:

Site 1C:

Site 1D:

Site 1A:Square Tower - Eight Stories

Site 1B:

Cottage - Three Stories

Site 1C:

Steel Tower - Two Story Cab

Site 1D:

Cottage - Two Stories

Site 1A:1943

Site 1B:

1944

Site 1C:

1941

Site 1D:

1943

Site 1A:
  • Sealed with concrete
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 5

Site 1B:

  • Private Residence
  • Groupement 2 CP

Site 1C:

  • Dismantled 1948
  • Had Anti-Aircraft OP until 1943

Site 1D:

  • Private Residence
 Private Property
Scituate MA Site 1A:

Site 1B:

Site 1C:

Site 1A:Cottage - Three Stories

Site 1B:

Manhole - One Story w/ One Story wooden cottage on roof

Site 1C:

Square Tower - Five Stories w/ one story wooden cottage attached

Site 1A:1943

Site 1B:

1943

Site 1C:

1943

Site 1A:
  • Gun Group 1 CP on first floor
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 4
  • Restored 2020

Site 1B:

  • Built atop Battery 208
  • Wooden cottage removed

Site 1C:

  • Wooden cottage removed 1990s
 All Private Property - Hanscom recreation area
Marshfield MA Square Tower - Eight Stories 1943
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 3
  • Converted to residence 1970s - now being restored
 Private Property
Site 1A ca. 1995
 Plymouth MA 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
Aquinnah MA Site 1A:

Site 2:

Manhole Station - One Story 1942

Site 1A:

  • Station buried to roof w/ viewing platform built around

Site 2:

  • Fell to beach 1970s
 Aquinnah Cliffs - Open to public
Naushon Island MA Site 1A:

Site 2A:

Site 2B:

Manhole Station - One Story 1942
  • All stations have remnants of barracks nearby
  • Site 1A had Anti-Aircraft OP 6
 Private Property
Cuttyhunk Island MA Site 1A:
  • Spare

Site 1B:

Site 1C:

Site 1D:

Site 1E:

Site 2A:

Manhole Station - One Story 1942 Site 2A:
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 5
  • Still has DPF pedestal
  • Switchboard and powerhouse nearby
  • Observation deck built on roof
 Cuttyhunk Island Town Land - Open to public
West Island MA 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
New Bedford MA
  • Harbor Defense Observation Station & Gun Group 2 OP
 Manhole - One Story 1943
  • On top of Battery Milliken
 Fort Taber Park - Open to public
Dartmouth MA Cottage 1943
  • One level incorporated into a home
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 2
 Any remains demolished 2008 - Private Property
Fairhaven MA Site 1B:

Site 1D:

Site 1E:

Site 1B:

Cottage - Three Stories Site 1D: Square Tower - Not separated by floors until top

Site 1E:

Cottage - Three Stories

Site 1B:

1942 Site 1D: 1942

Site 1E:

1943

Site 1B:

Site 1D:

  • Disguised as lighthouse
  • Anti-Aircraft OP 1 HD New Bedford

Site 1E:

  • Razed 1978
 Gooseberry Neck Reservation - Open to Public
Little Compton RI

West Island Tower--Sealed--Public Beach--

Round Hill Station--Razed 2008--Private Property--Round Hill MR

Gooseberry Neck Towers (Three)--One razed 1978--Sealed--Gooseberry Neck MR

RHODE ISLAND

Warren Point Stations (Two)--One razed 1970 & other razed 2019--Private Property--Warren Point MR

Sauchest Point Stations (Three)--All razed 197?--Open to public--Sauchest Point MR

Beavertail Station--HECP w/ FC Stations--Private Property--Fort Burnside

Conanicut Battery Stations (Six)--All built in 1921 but used thru WWII--All sealed--Public Park--Prospect Hill MR

The Bonnet Station--Mine OP--Private Property--

Camp Varnum Stations (Four)--Slightly altered--Active National Guard Base--Fort Varnum

Point Judith Stations (Five)--Two Stations razed 1979--Two Stations damaged in storms--One tower part of Fishermans Visitors Center--Private Property--Fort Nathanael Greene

Green Hill Stations (Three)--All razed before 1963--Private Property--Green Hill MR

Charleston Station--Altered 2000--Private Property--

Block Island Stations (Eight)--Four towers & Four cottages--Two razed between 1970-85 & Two razed between 1980-85--Private Property--

Noyes Neck Towers (Two)--Razed before 1963--Private Property--Watch Hill Stations (Two)--One Cottage & One Tower--Razed immediately after WWII--Watch Hill MR

This list is subject to change as more pre-WWII Stations are added

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