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: 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.
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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