Former main entrance to Chesterfield AT&T site.  This site had also TM microwave.  Four separate routes (Littleton L3, Springfield/Cheshire L3,  Clarksville L3/L4 and Netcong/Airmont L3/L4) terminated at Chesterfield.  This was a two level facility and was powered by 3 diesel generators.  See drawings of the site plans  The upper level had a 1ESS switch that provided AUTOVON to military users in the area included Westover AFB, Barnes ARB and the Post Attack Command and Control System Facility at Hadley, MA. .  Chesterfield was also the relocation point for Julie Nixon, Presidents Nixon's daughter, who was attending school at Amherst College.  One of the mezzanine rooms was designated as living space for Julie and her husband during a catastrophic event.  Chesterfield, as well at most of the entire L coaxial and AUTOVON system were turned down in late 1990.

The facility has now been converted to industrial use.  Purchased 5 years ago by Chesterfield Products for approximately $200,000, the western side of the facility was excavated away form the building and doors and windows cut into the 2 foot thick walls. Note that you are looking at upper level of the structure where L carrier equipment was housed.  Structure has another level below this where the AUTOVON switch was located. (See current owner's site conversion Web Page for another photo)

A unique piece of "telephone" equipment.  This hardened device was a gamma ray detector to detect nearby nuclear explosions..  These devices had two functions.  First they were part of the blast valve system that shut off outside air from entering the building.  The device would set off a small explosive charge in the blast valve slamming it shut.  The second function was to indicate a nearby nuclear explosion and relay this information to NORAD headquarters at Cheyenne Mountain.  Early versions (pneumatic) were subject to false alerts when lightning struck nearby.   See related article on these devices.
 
 

 This facility is 1/4 mile south of the Chester facility and on a hill (42-21-39.5 / 72-47-56.6).  This site was part of the communications system at Westover AFB.  While it was connected coaxial cable (WLEL) to the Chester AT&T site it also was connected by a TM microwave link to the Notch at Westover AFB, and also the AT&T site at Wendell, MA as well as a microwave site in West Springfield across the river from the Springfield, CO.   A TM microwave system could carry 600 circuits (from L multiplex).  Connectivity to the L systems was at Chesterfield and connectivity to the East West TD2 system was at Wendell.  Approximately 15 miles east of this site is the Peru AT&T facility. The Peru site was also a ground entry point (GEP) site for Looking Glass aircraft stationed at Westover.

This AT&T hut (now shut down) serviced the AF/AT&T tower.

Repeater vault in Williamsburg, MA on the easterly L-3 route to Littleton.  Note additional refinements including fake clapboards (hut is actually poured concrete structure) and wrought iron rails.  Roof marker (C05)  is for helicopter inspection and identification.  Original "1E" can also be seen on the roof signifying that is was the first L-3 hut on the eastern "A" cable out of Chesterfield.

L3W Chesterfield hut circa 1968.  Check out Long Lines suburban behind hut.

Related story:  L-3 routes in western Mass were mainly installed by rough and tough cable crews from Maine and Pennsylvania.  Crews installed cables through little sleepy towns and were known to work hard and play hard.  Local young women were easy targets for this rowdy crowd, straining the local relations  Unfortunately the maintenance crews that had to maintain the system after the installation had a considerable public relations problem.  The Bell System launched a program to be good neighbors by installing a fence or gate or what ever small project would gain points for the telephone company.  Some of the niceties on this building may have been to appease the neighbors as this hut sits next to a tidy "Cape" style home.

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