Lower Township near Cape May in Cape May County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Construction of Fire Control Tower No. 23

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2010

1. Construction of Fire Control Tower No. 23 Marker

Inscription. White Construction of New York was the contractor for this fire control tower. They used a “sliding form” or “slip form,” allowing for a continuous pour of concrete. In June of 1942, about fourteen piles were driven into the ground. Two wooden cylindrical forms of tongue-and-groove board were placed one inside the other, with a one foot gap between them. Iron reinforcement bars (re-bars) were positioned in the gap and the concrete was then poured. As the concrete set, the forms were jacked up and the pour continued. Rectangular boxes were stuck in the gap between the forms to create window openings. You can still see the line in the concrete near the top of the tower where the pour was ended and more traditional forms were used to create the top and the cap of the tower. Amazingly, it only took 2 ½ to 3 days to build the shell of Fire Control Tower No. 23. Finishers moved in to create the floors and details, and the tower was completed by September 1942.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1942.

Location. 38° 56.612′ N, 74° 58.013′ W. Marker is near Cape May, New Jersey, in Cape May County. It is in Lower Township. It is on Sunset Boulevard (County Route 606), on the left when traveling west. Marker is located near the

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World War II Lookout Tower. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 536 Sunset Blvd, Cape May NJ 08204, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on New Jersey’s Jersey Shore.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Top of the Fire Tower (here, next to this marker); History of Coastal Defenses (here, next to this marker); Fire Control Tower No. 23 (here, next to this marker); The abrupt end of Fort Miles (here, next to this marker); Landscape (here, next to this marker); The Construction of Fort Miles (a few steps from this marker); Cape May during World War II (a few steps from this marker); All Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape May.

More about this marker. The background of the marker contains a silhouette of the area showing Fire Control Tower No. 23. The right of the marker features a recruitment poster for the Coast Artillery Corps.

Also see . . . Fort Miles website. (Submitted on August 27, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Cape May Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2010

2. Cape May Markers

Several markers are found near the tower. The "Construction of Fire Control Tower No. 23" marker is seen here on the right.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2010

3. Construction of Fire Control Tower No. 23 Marker

Fire Control Tower No. 23 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2010

4. Fire Control Tower No. 23

The marker is seen here on the walkway to the tower.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 775 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 27, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.