Another Downtown Eyesore Gets Modified
At about the same time that the the giant mural went up over the failed L-Building and current parking deck, another drab and lifeless concrete monolith downtown was also undergoing changes. The tall microwave relay radio tower attached to the AT&T building on Nash Square was dismantled over the course of a weekend.
Towers like this one were built all over the country in the 1950s and 1960s. The series of conical or parabolic antennas attached to them were pointed at a matching device far away in order to receive and send information. It’s kind of like two gigantic tin cans attached to an invisible string.
The main windowless AT&T building it once served was built in 1948. The poured concrete behemoth that sits on Nash Square serves as a giant relay station.
For several decades, the radio tower served as a supplemental means of sending and receiving data. Most microwave radio towers went into disuse in the 1980s when fiberoptic technology provided a much faster and cheaper way to carry data.
Crew descends after disassembling the upper levels of the tower
When I noticed the tower was being disassembled, I wasn’t holding out hope that AT&T would relocate and demolish that lifeless building. However, I was curious if something else might take its place. The crew taking it down said there was no real reason for the dismantling, just that AT&T finally wanted to pay someone to do it.
View from the top
Although I personally enjoyed looking at the pattern and structure of the microwave radio tower, I also realize that the vast majority of people consider it an eyesore. It served no purpose other than a jungle gym to a few urban explorers, so it was probably best that it be taken down.
Red clouds lying low over Raleigh, as seen from the tower
To learn more about the AT&T building on Nash Square that the tower was attached to, read the previous article:Â The Most Reclusive Building Downtown.
Images of Raleigh from the tower:
- The Odd Fellows Building From Above
- At Home in the Clouds
- The Emerald Jewel of Raleigh
- Clouds Overhead
Leo also has a fantastic view of the radio tower over at the Raleigh Connoisseur.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS feed
Subscribe to posts by Email
Sign up for the Newsletter
08/25/2011
I remember being driven along Old US 1 as a child. Those string of microwave towers were always fascinating to me. They seemed to string along between the old WPTF towers in Cary to downtown Raleigh. I didn’t quite understand what they were used for, but they were a fixture that I found unique. I still haven’t seen anything like them any other place I have been.
I kind of like those eyesores.
08/25/2011
This was one of my favorite places in that town :(
08/25/2011
Bad Mojo: I like them too.
Joe: Yeah man, I’ll miss it too. I hope its removal doesn’t stop you from coming back to visit Raleigh next time you’re on the east coast.
09/15/2011
I agree, microwave towers are neat to look at :)
to see other sites and pictures, check out http://www.thecentraloffice.com/
09/16/2011
It’s funny how you don’t notice something, until you begin to notice it…that doestn’t make much sense, let me explain. A month or two ago, I visited a house set right beside an old-timey microwave tower like this. Being that I was born in ’76, these were around for plenty of time during my lifetime. I vaguely remember seeing them, but I never paid them much attention. After seeing the one this house was set on, I got kind of interested…and it seems as if they are being torn down to make room for space for cell phone towers. I hate I never paid this tower any attention. Now it’s too late to take note of it when I’m downtown.
I tend to like things that are obsolete/from the past, so I kind of wish they’d leave a few microwave towers here and there standing…kind of like a time capsule. :D
09/16/2011
you are exactly right Wendy!
Life sneaks up on us doesn’t it? — and then ya just gotta go with the flow. :)
Thanks for the reminder!
02/19/2012
The only reason I went to Raleigh or Greensboro was to see the beautiful microwave towers. Now I have no reason to ever go again :(
Prat