Original hops: 1966 — Richwoods (NW); Walsh, Illinois (NNE)
In the early-mid 1960s, AT&T Long Lines constructed a microwave relay site off U.S. 67 north of Bonne Terre in St. Francois County as the final hop in Missouri for the Kansas City-Halifax-Oakdale, Illinois, route. The site is named after an unincorporated community whose post office, in operation 1888-1925, was named after the capital of Nova Scotia.
Halifax only had two hops through its entire life in the Long Lines system: Northwest to Richwoods, and north-northeast across the Mississippi River to Walsh, Illinois. From Walsh the route would reach its terminal station southwest of Oakdale, Illinois.
Today, American Tower Corporation owns the site and leases space to wireless communications companies such as cell carriers. While the tower has several cell repeater antennas and even what appear to be wireless internet service provider access points, the four original KS-15676 horn-reflector antennas remain. Access to the site is limited by a gate off Berry Road, which runs parallel to southbound U.S. 67. A Reddit user in r/LongLines said the base station building is completely empty.
The former Halifax, Missouri, AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site seen from its entrance gate Oct. 17, 2024, off Berry Road, an outer road on the west side of U.S. 67. Halifax was the final Missouri hop along the Kansas City-Oakdale, Illinois, route. (I often refer to this route as the “Kansas City-Halifax” route, referring to the Missouri section.) Halifax had a northwest hop to Richwoods and a southeast hop to Walsh, Illinois.The Halifax, Missouri, former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay tower, seen Oct. 17, 2024. The original four KS-15676 horn-reflector antennas are still installed, with the lower two on outrigger platforms aimed northwest to Richwoods. The top horn-reflector antennas are pointed east-northeast to Walsh, Illinois. American Tower Corporation currently owns the site (ASR 1005495) and leases space to cell carriers (cell antennas mounted below top platform) and likely a wireless internet service provider (appears to be a WISP access point, a white parabolic dish, about three-quarters up the tower).Closer view of the top platform of the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay tower near Halifax, Missouri, seen Oct. 17, 2024. The top two KS-15676 horn-reflector antennas are pointed northeast to Walsh, Illinois. While a later-added antenna may fool you, the waveguide has been stripped from the horn-reflectors on the tower, which is usually the case when other antennas have been added. American Tower Corporation leases tower space to companies such as wireless cell carriers, with several cell antennas mounted directly below the walking platform under the top platform. Below that are possible access points for a wireless internet service provider. A dipole array antenna is mounted on the left side of the top platform, likely for land mobile radio communications.Two KS-15676 horn-reflector antennas mounted on outrigger platforms lower on the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay tower near Halifax, Missouri, are seen Oct. 17, 2024. These antennas were aimed northwest at Richwoods.A thick tree line mostly obstructs view of the base station at the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Halifax, Missouri, as seen Oct. 17, 2024. However, part of the building and its original air conditioning condensing units are slightly visible in this picture right of center near the bottom. A gate limits access to the site from the road.Identification for the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Halifax, Missouri, seen Oct. 17, 2024, on the site gate. American Tower Corporation currently owns the site and leases space out to wireless companies such as cell carriers, wireless internet service providers and land mobile repeater owners.A cable marker seen outside the entrance gate to the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Halifax, Missouri, seen Oct. 17, 2024.Halifax, Missouri, former AT&T Long Lines microwave tower, right, seen Oct. 17, 2024, from the northeast at Route Y and U.S. 67. The horn-reflector antennas facing the camera are pointed northeast at Walsh, Illinois.
