American science fiction writer Stephen King is author of, among many things, the "Dark Tower" series of books. Now another tower that used to be his - an AM radio tower more than 400 feet tall - has gone dark. It was formerly used by WZON 620 AM in Maine, one of three of the region's radio stations that used to be owned by the writer. The tower had stood since 1937 when it was first used by WLBZ, the radio station's callsign in its earliest days.
Citing the financial struggles of three area radio stations he owned in Maine, King announced last year they were going to end their run. WKIT, known for its classic rock format, is still on the air, having been saved at the last minute after being bought by a media partnership known as the Rock Lobster Radio Group.
WZON-AM and WZLO-FM went silent on the 31st of December. However, recent local news reports say that both stations will return under new ownership: A company called Mix Maine Media was buying them from King along with an FM translator.
WZON's tower, however, still had to go. Local residents' affection for this longtime familiar sight drew them out to the scene of the demolition on Wednesday, March 26th. The prospect of the station's return, however, did cheer them -- and so when WZON played its final song last December before turning off its transmitter, its words rang true, but only for the tower.
The song was REM's "The End of the World As We Know It."