# Concrete Silos PA Turnpike? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 14, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230 "2013-08-14T17:09:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/1 "2013-08-14T17:09:28Z")
I’ve noticed two concrete silos along the PA turnpike that don’t seem to be for storing grain. One is one the NE extension maybe 10-15 miles north of the east-west section. Its on the east side of the road 100’ +/- into the woods. The other is on the east-west section near Downingtown. Its on the south side of the road. Both seem to be narrower than a standard silo and lack the external “piping” normally seen. Neither is in the immediate vicinity of a barn. The one has metal electrical/equipment boxes outside. The other, I’m not sure. I’m guessing that they house some sort of communications equipment/antenna but why hide it behind concrete? There are cell towers very nearby to one so i assume they are not hiding them. Any guesses? Sorry I can’t provide more accurate locations. I never write down the mile markers when I see them. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/2 "2013-08-14T17:10:44Z")
Could they be for road sand/salt? We have storage domes for that stuff here. ---
**Author:** ![dan1500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dan1500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dan1500)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/3 "2013-08-14T22:30:42Z")
Microwave Towers? [http://long-lines.net/places-routes/1st\_transcon\_mw/LL0949/02.html](http://long-lines.net/places-routes/1st_transcon_mw/LL0949/02.html) ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/4 "2013-08-16T13:52:22Z")
There are no visible antennas, just a silver dome top. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/5 "2013-08-16T13:56:38Z")
Can you give us a Google maplink? ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/6 "2013-08-16T14:15:14Z")
Here are the Google Earth lat/lon for one. Street View has a good image. There is a building next to it but it is not a barn, more like a storage building. There is some farming in the area but a quick look around Google Earth didn’t show any other silos. 40°05’03.98" N 75°42’58.54" W ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/7 "2013-08-16T16:22:08Z")
It is a storage silo IMO. Zoom in & you can see the product transfer conveyor device going from the silo to the building. Might be something like a corn sacking place or just a protected working space for the winter… ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/8 "2013-08-17T04:09:50Z")
I guess it’s just a simple farm silo . . . but that is\*\*\* tall.\*\*\* At least 100 feet. I’ve never seen that before. I wonder if there was some Pennsylvania concrete contractor who promoted the idea of one really tall concrete silo instead of two short metal ones. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/9 "2013-08-17T05:51:43Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > Here are the Google Earth lat/lon for one. Street View has a good image. There is a building next to it but it is not a barn, more like a storage building. There is some farming in the area but a quick look around Google Earth didn’t show any other silos. > > 40°05’03.98" N 75°42’58.54" W According to [AntennaSearch.com](http://AntennaSearch.com), that tall silo is a cell phone tower owned by Wireless Tower Group, LLC. The structure appears to be made of fiberglass to look like a silo. The ‘barn’ next to the silo holds the electrical equipment. Note the high quality security camera above the wooden doors, good quality roof, and electrical service box outside. The overhead picture shows a clean fence with no connection to the farm beside it. By going to that website, search Milford Rd, Downingtown, PA it shows a map of that very spot. Remember, many areas are banning cell towers that look like cell towers. Fake trees, extra thick flagpoles, and now silos are all fair game. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/10 "2013-08-17T17:31:34Z")
Great find, I learned a thing or three. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/11 "2013-08-19T13:17:21Z")
Well done 2gigch1. I would never have guessed that silo was fiberglass but I knew it wasn’t a grain silo. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/12 "2013-08-23T02:10:58Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I’ve noticed two concrete silos along the PA turnpike that don’t seem to be for storing grain. One is one the NE extension maybe 10-15 miles north of the east-west section. Its on the east side of the road 100’ +/- into the woods. Is this one before or after Lansdale exit? About how far? ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/13 "2013-08-23T15:38:29Z")
I don’t remember. I think its north but I can’t find it for sure on Google Earth. Its hidden trees. In any case, its very similar to the Downingtown one. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/14 "2013-08-23T16:01:23Z")
I’ve also read about cell towers being camouflaged when the situation seemed appropriate. Where these are, I don’t quite understand the need. In Gainesville Fl., on 23rd av., west of 43rd st., there is a church with a big ‘wooden’ tower behind it, topped by a large cross. It certainly is a ‘tower’. A friend who owned 5 acres nearby offered his property for the tower if they would allow him to use the area underneath and they turned him down. he figured his property worth more for the acre they wanted than they were willing to pay for the lease. How many other ‘towers’ can people spot? I mean electronic towers that don’t look like electronic towers. ?? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/15 "2013-08-23T16:11:33Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > I’ve also read about cell towers being camouflaged when the situation seemed appropriate. Where these are, I don’t quite understand the need. In Gainesville Fl., on 23rd av., west of 43rd st., there is a church with a big ‘wooden’ tower behind it, topped by a large cross. It certainly is a ‘tower’. A friend who owned 5 acres nearby offered his property for the tower if they would allow him to use the area underneath and they turned him down. he figured his property worth more for the acre they wanted than they were willing to pay for the lease. > > How many other ‘towers’ can people spot? I mean electronic towers that don’t look like electronic towers. ?? Just google “disguised cell phone towers”. Church steeples, clock towers, water tanks, trees including palm trees, cactuses, flagpoles, and, yeah, silos. Even advertising signs, which arguably look worse than the cell tower. Here’s a company that does it: > **[Valmont Telecom](https://www.valmonttelecom.com/)** > > Valmont® Telecom is the industry leader in designing and producing engineered communications infrastructure. ---
**Author:** ![FullSynthetic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ed655f/32.png) [@FullSynthetic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FullSynthetic)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-silos-pa-turnpike/666230/16 "2013-09-03T04:53:18Z")
The Silo by the Downingtown PA turnpike interchange is a disguised T-Mobile cell tower. They wanted a plain old 150’ steel monopole, the Township wanted something that would better “blend-in” with the surrounding landscape. It’s doing it’s job if you just noticed it, because it’s been sitting up there for probably 10 years now. You won’t find any more details about it on sites like AntennaSearch, because sites under 200’ tall don’t have to be registered with the FCC. It’s in Upper Uwchlan, Chester County, you could contact the township, and they will probably let you buy a copy of the architectural drawings for a fee, if you want to see the site layout, and what it looks like inside.