Telegraph and Radar at Twin Lights

Telegraph and Radar at Twin Lights. Twin Lights Historic Site. , This site was significant for more than just the lighthouse. In this strategic location, Marconi demonstrated wireless telegraph, the US Navy established a wireless station, and the US Army tested various radar units., The Navy's Bureau of Equipment had the responsibility of establishing wireless radio stations for communications with Navy ships. Unable to reach an agreement with Marconi for use of his wireless equipment, the US Navy established their own wireless station here in 1902., By 1907, the Navy's station was abandoned and the building was purchased by the Postal Telegraph Company. The Postal Telegraph Company moved the structure off the lighthouse ground and attached it to their existing telegraph watchtower to provide housing for their telegraph keeper., From 1932 until 1939, engineers and scientists from Fort Monmouth military base in Eatontown, N.J. tested radar and other electronic detection devises here. In November 1939, testers were able to use radar units to follow a flight of B-17 bombers over Long Island, N.Y. flying a distance of 138 miles., [Captions:] , United States Navy Wireless Telegraph Station , This station sat on the hill with its antenna on the old north tower site. Guide wires from the antenna were attached to four concrete pads that helped hold it in place. The concrete pads can still be seen today., Postal Telegraph Company Watchtower , The Postal Telegraph keeper reported on ships passing in and out of New York Harbor to clients of the Postal Telegraph Company. The base of the watchtower still exists today - just over the hill in front of you., United States Army Radar Installation, 1939 , This image shows the control room and radar sets SCR - 270 and SCR - 271 used for these tests situated next to the north lighthouse tower.