Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
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In a matter of minutes, the long standing TV tower behind Southwest Texas Telephone Company’s business office was reduced to scrap iron. On Tuesday, March 23rd, Gulf Coast Stepjack, Inc. folded the 400’ structure erected in 1964.
The crew first salvaged the non-working beacons and antennas that still adorned the tower. Next, they cut the bolts that anchored the tower to a concrete base. Tension was added to specific guy wires to direct the fall. Since even the best plans can go astray, the telephone office was vacated before the tower was dropped.
As spectators watched, the southwest guy wire was cut. Immediately the tower began to fold with the upper section dropping first. The crew made adjustments once again tightening a guy wire before sawing another one.
With the second cut, the remaining tower folded into itself dropping to the ground eliminating a hazard to low flying aircraft. Twisted metal, broken conduit and strands of guy wire cluttered the pole yard.
The tower was originally owned by the Rocksprings TV Company which was affiliated with Southwest Texas Telephone Company. The TV company was sold to Layne Herring and Cody Brashear in the 80s. The new owners leased the land occupied by the tower. The TV company has had several owners since the sale in the 80s. Through the years, age and neglect had taken its toll on the structure.
The TV shack has also been reduced to a pile of rubble.