Collapse Marks End of Jefferson County Landmark
posted 7:35 pm Fri January 11, 2008 - Redfield
KATV used its Redfield tower to broadcast programming for more than 40 years.
Built in 1965, and reaching 2,000 feet into the air, the tower was the largest structure in Arkansas. And one man watched it all come together piece by piece. (Ralph Smith, KATV Chief Engineer, 1965) “We went and bought that acreage--about 180 acres. And then paperwork, phone calls and more paperwork.”
KATV’s then-chief engineer Ralph Smith remembers how impressive the construction was.
From the massive holes dug for foundations, to the tons of steel erected straight up into the air, Arkansas had never seen a broadcast tower quite like it.
Upon its completion in 1965, the tower stood taller than the Empire State Building, and held the title of second-largest structure in the world.
For someone who watched it from the beginning, the end result was simply stunning.
(Smith) “You get that much steel going up in the air, you know, you say, ‘Wow.’ It was exciting--it really was. It was something new.”
While structural improvements and new equipment were added to the tower—and surrounding property--throughout the past 40 years, KATV continued to use the Redfield tower every day until Friday’s collapse.
Built in 1965, and reaching 2,000 feet into the air, the tower was the largest structure in Arkansas. And one man watched it all come together piece by piece. (Ralph Smith, KATV Chief Engineer, 1965) “We went and bought that acreage--about 180 acres. And then paperwork, phone calls and more paperwork.”
KATV’s then-chief engineer Ralph Smith remembers how impressive the construction was.
From the massive holes dug for foundations, to the tons of steel erected straight up into the air, Arkansas had never seen a broadcast tower quite like it.
Upon its completion in 1965, the tower stood taller than the Empire State Building, and held the title of second-largest structure in the world.
For someone who watched it from the beginning, the end result was simply stunning. (Smith) “You get that much steel going up in the air, you know, you say, ‘Wow.’ It was exciting--it really was. It was something new.”
While structural improvements and new equipment were added to the tower—and surrounding property--throughout the past 40 years, KATV continued to use the Redfield tower every day until Friday’s collapse.
Latest Comment on Collapse Marks End of Jefferson County Landmark
radiospanky
2:17 pm on 01/14/08
A crane didn't go that high back then, but a heliocopter could.
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