contributed by Tom Scanlan

When the Air Force closed the Painesdale site in June, 1968, the building and tower were given to Michigan Technological University, along with the building. The land belonged to Mead Paper Company, and they continue to own the land. The USAF site was 9 acres, roughly a square.

In 1971 MTU received a permit from the FCC to build a public radio station on 90.1 FM...subsequently a 400 foot tower was erected for the FM station. WGGL went on the air in late 1971. It is not known what happened to the radar antenna or motor.

Michigan Tech then sold the station to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) in the late 1970`s, and MPR mounted a 10` grid microwave dish on the radar tower to relay audio feeds from their main studios in St. Paul. MTU donated studio space to MPR on their campus in Houghton. That arrangement continues today, although WGGL now receives its feeds via satellite, and the receiving dish is no longer used.

In 1996 Scanlan Communications from Traverse City received a TV permit from the FCC to build WBKP, Channel 5, a new ABC station. Scanlan sought permission from MPR to locate the TV transmitter in the Gap Filler building, where WGGL-FM`s transmitter is. WBKP replaced WGGL`s tower with a new 500 foot tower, and provided WGGL with a new antenna.

The arrangement continues today as a joint venture...MPR owns the radio station, their transmitter and antenna, WBKP owns the tower and their TV antenna, Mead owns the land, and MPR owns the building. WBKP maintains the building, fence, and all transmitters for the others under a joint usage agreement. Land mobile and the NOAA weather service transmitter are also on site and use the building and tower.

The old USAF standby diesel generator still works and provides standby power, and the original USAF fence has been repaired, using fencing from the recently closed KI Sawyer AFB (SAC) in nearby Marquette.

Security? Never a problem. It was good enough for Gen. Curtis LeMay, it is good enough for WGGL and WBKP-TV!

The site usually gets well over 300" of snow, and once (1978-79) received over 400". Temps seldom go above 80...lows have been in the -20 to -30 range. It is the higest point (1,509 feet) on the "Keweenaw Ridge".

Electricity and phone now go underground. Original above ground lines and pole transformers were replaced in 1970.

Visitors welcome...call (906) 337-9990 and we`ll gladly show you a piece of USAF history...still serving the Public!