Can you hear me now? In Glasgow,
new cell-phone tower should help
 |
| Workers lay the foundation for Glasgow's new cell-phone tower. (JOHN HENDERSON/ Rockbridge Report) |
George Tompkins, a retired businessman, is fairly certain a new cell-phone tower will not bring a flood of people and businesses to Glasgow.
It’s doubtful that anything will bring back the boom town that it was in the 1890s.
Still, Tompkins is looking forward to getting reception without having to drive up nearby Sallings Mountain for a clear signal.
“It’s not really a necessity for me, but it’s something we think is going to be awfully nice,” he said.
At the invitation of town Mayor Sam Blackburn, Verizon agreed in 2005 to build a 250-foot cell-phone tower to improve service to the town and surrounding areas. The new tower will add to Verizon’s rapidly expanding cell-phone network.
Currently, service in Glasgow is patchy or nonexistent. When the tower is turned on in about six weeks, people living in Glasgow and along Route 501 to Buena Vista should have clear reception.
Tompkins, a Rockbridge County resident since 1945, said he has not seen many changes in Glasgow other than severe flooding in 1964, the installation of a sewer system, and the construction of a new post office. In that time the population has hovered around 1,000 residents, many of whom work at a single carpet factory. The new cell-phone tower is unlikely to stir things up, Thomkins said.
“If we can have progress we should have progress, but I don’t object to [Glasgow] the way it is,” he said.
Blackburn faced only moderate challenges in getting the tower approved. One family was concerned it would ruin the view from their house. Verizon raised weather balloons to show how high the tower would go, which helped allay concerns about its visibility.
The Virginia Historical Society blocked it for some time, believing the tower might disturb Indian artifacts. Blackburn turned to Del. Ben Cline, who talked to representatives from the state historical society. When local Indian tribes did not object, the project moved to federal agencies for final approval.
Blackburn did not intend to give up on the project.
“I’ve been waiting on it for years,” he said.
Construction started Monday in the middle of Ninth Street, a gravel track that runs through an open field near the railroad. A hole the size of a swimming pool marks the spot where concrete will be poured Friday to support the structure.
John Bradley, who is running the five-man construction team, said the tower should go up in four weeks.
“Iron and legs is all it is,” he said. “It’s pretty simple, a lot of bolts.”
Bradley and his crew build metal towers for wireless networks and electric companies up and down the East coast. The parts for Glasgow’s tower will come in on tractor trailers from Plymouth, Ind., be lifted into place with a crane and bolted together. Because the pieces are made of galvanized steel, they will not rust or need paint.
Bradley has built numerous towers for Verizon, one of the biggest wireless networks in users and coverage.
“Verizon is really filling in now,” he said. “They’re covering a lot of area.”
Glasgow is one more blank spot about to be colored in.
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Phylissa
Mitchell
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Pam Luecke
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd