Defunct Radio Station Tower Site for Sale
July 31, 2022A long-dark AM radio station in northern Cambria County has listed its tower site for sale.
WNCC, a station licensed to Northern Cambria borough (formerly Barnesboro) was on the air between 1950 until 2010. It went silent following the death of owner Larry Schrecongost and a failed sale afterwards. The station’s heyday was primarily the late 60’s through the 70’s, when Cambria County’s lucrative coal industry was thriving.
Schrecongost’s widow is attempting to sell the site to a new owner interested in leasing space on the tower, or razing it and developing the 7 acres of land it sits on, located two and a half miles east of Northern Cambria.
Chuck Englody, a ham radio operator and engineer who also worked for Mr. Schrecongost, said the station transmitted from the site since 1952, and that the current tower was erected in 2009.
The tower is a 240 foot guyed, uniform cross section Valmont structure with three anchor points and a white strobe light.
Owner Nancy Schrecongost can be reached by email at Nance832@gmail.com. More information can be found on the tower through this link:
https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/asrRegistration.jsp?regKey=2649582
Is there a reason why the 93.5fm signal was not used on this tower?
EDITOR’S REPLY: It was my understanding that Larry Schrecongost wanted a city-grade signal for Altoona. Locating 93.5 on the WNCC antenna would not have accomplished that, as it was a short-spaced channel that ran the risk of bumping into the adjacent channels 93.3 in Meyersdale, and 93.7 in State College. He barely was able to fit it where he got it.
Wow, it was practically a brand-new stick when they left the air. Such a shame it can’t be put back to use.
I thought the same thing Carson. Erecting a tower isn’t cheap, and AM towers are really pricy. To see this tower going to waste, is such a shame. Unfortunately, nothing seems to have value these days, and whatever the biggest bucks can pull in, is the deal breaker. It will probably be the future home of some shopping plaza, and the tower will be junked. Sad times we live in.