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

[N4ZR]

Frankly, I'm curious why it is still there. Bart, why not stop by and 
ask the owners? The house shows signs of a significant evolution over 
the years, essentially doubling its footprint.  I like towers as much as 
the next guy, but you'd think this one would have been taken down by now.

73, Pete N4ZR
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On 2/29/2020 4:55 PM, Bart Campbell wrote:
> 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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