- (December 2006) HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. - Officials at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park are once again facing a familiar threat: a proposed new communications tower in view of the park.
The 190-foot tower is being planned for a low rise close to the Potomac River, downriver from the park about 2 miles. Located on the Maryland shore, it would be adjacent to the Maryland bridge as it crosses the river.

But Park Superintendent Don Campbell vowed to preserve the park's viewshed.

"We've been down this road many times," he said. "We're very proud to be able to say at Harpers Ferry that we've kept the Civil War skyline intact. It's something we've worked hard at for the last 20 years."

Washington County Emergency Services is seeking the new tower to provide improved communications along the river and in southern Washington County for law-enforcement personnel, emergency services, and Homeland Security needs.

"We're very concerned about it," said Campbell. He pointed out that the tower would not only affect the view downriver from the park, but it would impact a number of other national assets, including C&O Canal National Historical Park, the Appalachian Trail, the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, and the planned Potomac Heritage Trail.

"Harpers Ferry is a resource-rich area," Campbell explained.

Campbell met with Washington County officials in late October to discuss the tower. He noted, "They'd been planning this for five years, but had yet to talk to the federal government about it."

He said, "We were able to explain" that under federal law, the county will have to go through a lengthy review process to assess how the tower might adversely affect historic resources.

"We'll work constructively with these folks to look at alternative sites and alternative technologies," Campbell said.

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