Fire Control Tower List

From New England Defenses
Revision as of 20:29, 13 December 2024 by J. Malcolm (talk | contribs) (Added more listing)
Jump to navigation Jump to search


This is a list of all the Fire Control Stations used during WWII. Most of these structures were built from 1942-1944 but some were built earlier and they are included because they were used through WWII. This list does not include temporary stations which may have been built before the completion of a permanent tower.

MAINE

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 1F
Site 1H
Site 1J
 Cushings Island ME Site 1B:
  • Secondary Mines I OP-Upper & Lower

Site 1E:

Site 1F:

Site 1H:

Site 1J:

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

Site 1E:

  • Square Tower - Eight Stories

Site 1F:

  • Square Tower - One Story

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 1F:

  • *Built on top of the Battery Foote 1921 BC Station when casemented in 1944.

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
Marblehead MA Site 1A:

Site 2A:

Site 3A:

Site 1A:

Site 2A:

Site 3A:

Site 1A:


Site 2A:

1941

Site 3A:

Site 1A:

Site 2A:

Site 3A:

No remains at 3A - All Private Property

Prouts Neck Tower--Razed 2004--Private Property--Prouts Neck MR

Biddeford Pool Tower--Razed 195?--On a Golf Course--Biddeford Pool MR

Cape Porpoise Tower--Razed 1949 by USACE--Private Property--Cape Porpoise MR

Great Hill/Gelaspus Point--Razed 1949--Private Property--Gelaspus Point MR

Moody Point Station--Partially Razed 1965--Garnsey Brothers Real Estate--Moody Point MR

Bald Head Station--Razed 1964--Bald Head Cliff Hotel--Bald Head Cliff MR

York Cliffs Station--Altered 2001--Private Property--Cape Neddick MR

Seal Head Station--Razed 1979--Private Property--Seal Head Point MR

Sisters Point Tower--Razed 2004--Private Property--Sisters Point MR

Fort Foster Towers (Two)--Double Mine OP & Battery Commanders Tower--Sealed--Fort Foster

Appledore Island Tower--Closed to public--Appledore Island MR

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Fort Constitution Tower--Mine OP--Fenced Off--Fort Constitution

Fort Stark HECP--HDOP 1--Fenced Off--Fort Stark

Fort Dearborn Station--Gun Group 1 Station--Built into 103 BC Station--Open to public--Fort Dearborn

Pulpit Rock Tower--Open occasionally--Pulpit Rock Camp

Rye Ledge Station--Razed 2007-Private Property--Rye Ledge MR

Great Boars Head/Hampton Beach Tower--Private Property--Great Boars Head MR

MASSACHUSETTS

Plum Island Station--Razed 1950s--Closed to public--Plum Island MR

Salisbury Beach Station--Collapsed 1958--Public beach--Salisbury Beach MR

Crane Estate/Castle Hill Station--Razed 1948--Open to public--Castle Hill MR

Halibut Point Tower--Altered 1996 & 2018--Open on weekends--Halibut Point MR

Emerson Point Tower--Private Property--Emerson Point MR

Eastern Point Station--Altered?--Private Property--Eastern Point MR

Coolidge Point Tower--Altered 1974--Private Property--Coolidge Point MR

Smith/Gales Point Station--Altered 1976--Private Property--Gales Point MR

Marblehead Neck Towers (Three)--One 5 story razed 1950s, One Cottage slightly altered & One 5 Story--All Private Property--Marblehead Neck MR

Nahant Towers (Five)--Two 8 story, Two 6 story & One cottage razed 1950s--All Private Property--Fort Ruckman, East Point MR

Deer Island Stations (Amount Undetermined)--All Stations razed 1988-92--No access--Fort Dawes

Lovells Island Stations (Two)--Mine OP & FCS--Open to public--Fort Standish

Great Brewster Island Mine OP (pushed off bluff 197? for safety)--Great Brewster MR

Outer Brewster Island Station--Atop Battery Jewell--Open to public--Outer Brewster Island MR

Georges Island (Two)--Mine OP--Repurposed Endicott tower for Gun Group 5--Open to public--Fort Warren

Point Allerton Stations (Three WWII)--One 7 story FCT--One 4 story FCS (Razed 1978)--One 1 story FCS (Razed 1978)--All Private Property--Point Allerton MR

Strawberry Hill Station--Razed 195? --located in front of 1907 station (now home)--Private Property--Strawberry Hill MR

Minot Stations (Four)--One 8 story FCT--One 5 story steel FCT (Dismantled 194?)--Two 2 story stations altered for residence--Private Property--Strawberry Point MR

Fourth Cliff Stations (Three)--One 5 story FCT--One 3 story FCS--One 1 story station--Private Property--Fourth Cliff MR

Gurnet Point Station--Razed 1998--Open to public--Gurnet Point MR

Elizabeths Islands Stations (Ten)--Five on Cuttyhunk Is., Three on Naushon Is. & Two on Martha's Vineyard (One in surf and one buried)--All open to public--Elizabeth Islands MR

West Island Tower--Sealed--Public Beach--Rocky Point MR

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--Bonnet Point MR

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--Quonochontaug Neck MR

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

Noyes Neck Towers (Two)--Razed before 1963--Private Property--Noyes Neck MR

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

Retrieved from "https://nedefenses.com/index.php?title=Fire_Control_Tower_List&oldid=3303"