[TowerTalk] Oldest Free Standing Amateur Tower? W4EM, Memphis TN

[Bart Campbell]

Paul,

Thank you for sharing this.  I have lived in Memphis or its surrounding
area since 1983, and have seen that tower many times and wondered about its
history.  It is, indeed, still standing (I drove past it only two days
ago).  It is incredible that it is still standing, not only because of its
age but that it has survived the modern era's lack of appreciation for the
work of art that tower really is!  Its survival may be in part to that
area's status as a historic district so, ironically, it may be protected
due to its age.

73,
Bart, NS4X


On Sat, Feb 29, 2020 at 3:05 PM Paul Christensen <w9ac at arrl.net> wrote:

> I collect old QSL cards, most of which date from the early 1920s when card
> exchange became popular.  I recently spotted a card that's currently on
> eBay.  The card shows the station of W. Wright Mitchell, W4EM, of Memphis
> TN
> and is dated January, 1934.  For those interested, have a look at the
> left-most tower on the QSL card.
>
> Next, Google "1455 Peabody Ave, Memphis TN."  Take a peek beyond the trees
> at the street intersection.  Incredibly, the tower is still standing, in
> its
> original form 85+ years later.  The tower formed one support of what
> appears
> to be an OCF dipole, fed with open transmission line.   I believe the tower
> actually dates to about 1931 based on another card I've seen.  If true, the
> tower has been standing almost 90 years.
>
> Paul, W9AC
>
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