Signal from the Edge: Saving the Last Marconi Towers

A century-old link to global communication—and a bold new opportunity for amateur radio—hangs in the balance on the coast of Newfoundland.

Gerry Hull W1VE brought this to my attention—and it deserves the attention of the entire amateur radio community. The last standing Marconi towers in North America—and possibly the world—rise from the coast of Battle Harbour, Newfoundland, once a vital outpost for global communication. In 1909, news of Admiral Robert Peary’s North Pole expedition was transmitted from this very site, breaking the isolation of the Labrador coast and connecting it to the world. These 111-foot steel towers—erected in 1930 after their wooden predecessors burned—now face serious threats from age and extreme weather. A $50,000 grant from the National Trust for Canada could save them, and all it takes is your vote.

Why does this matter to ham radio? Because this isn’t just preservation—it’s possibility. Peter Bull and the Battle Harbour Historic Trust fully support amateur radio’s role in the project. The site has 5G and Starlink access, rentable lodging, and the infrastructure to support remote HF and VHF operation. It’s a dream platform for a mini-DXpedition. Just as importantly, the project promotes sustainability, education, and community engagement. Local engineers, youth programs, and historians are already involved, using environmentally responsible methods to ensure the towers continue to inspire for generations. But it all depends on support from around the world.

Vote here: https://nextgreatsave.nationaltrustcanada.ca/2025/entry/85

You can vote once per day, per email address, for the next 14 days.