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Robert Ripps book
History of Tribeca Buildings
The Wailing of One World Trade Center
“Have you ever heard from neighbors about the wailing World Trade Center?” emailed Kenny Cummings. “I live a couple of blocks from the tower, and first heard this very eerie sound during Hurricane Sandy last year.” You weren’t the only one. “I’ve heard it only once afterwards, sometime last winter. I assumed once the building’s framework and windows went in, the airflow would be redirected. At 3:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, I awoke to the sound. It was slightly different in timbre, with two tones this time. I couldn’t be sure what it was at first, but after a moment I realized it was the Trade Center. Outside it was raining but the trees were calm. I can only imagine at that height the weather is different. I’m sure all of downtown hears this—it’s unmistakable and very chilling. I had to get up and record it. [You can hear it especially well around :20.] It seemed to calm down about 5 a.m.”
Anyone else out there noticing the sound?
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11 Comments
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Yes, I first heard it during Sandy, when it was very loud at times and thought it was caused but the exposed iron work at the top at that time, but have heard it on windy/stormy days since, most recently in the past several weeks.
Is anyone else bothered by the fact that WTC1 doesn’t seem to have the spire’s airplane warning beacon light lit most of the time? I’ve only seen it lit sporadically. Perhaps there’s one that can’t be seen from the street when I’m on Hudson between Duane and Reade?
Pretty sure there is a beacon up top, but might be hard to see from the ground. The wailing noise happens when there are storms blowing. It might be the wind between One WTC and Seven – it certainly does get windy down through there.
I heard it last Wednesday as well – could barely sleep as the screaming kept waking me up. It was so eerie. I didn’t make the connection you did though, and sadly makes sense.
The aircraft warning beacon is always on. It’s a white strobe during the day, and a red light at night.
That’s quite the ghoulish howl. I wonder what’s causing it? Could it be the open lattice spire on top? I can’t see how the smooth glass tower itself would produce that sound.
I have been hearing that sound and wondering what it was. Yikes!
It’s all the screams of those that died…
Re: the wind by 1 and 7, not the wailing
I’ve read that large buildings have a waterfall effect at their bases when hit by winds, which results in turbulence. Then there is the wind tunnel effect from two large buildings funneling wind between them.
The wind on the plaza by the original WTC was terrible in Winter, as was the turbulence. Can’t believe they recreated those problems, and maybe made them worse, TBD.
Very eerie during Sandy…
This is very similar to the sound that emanated from the Truffles building when it was first built. I don’t know exactly what caused it, but we were told it was not the wind. They eventually fixed it, but after Sandy it began again, and again they were able to eliminate it. It did take a lot of complaining directly to the building manager though.
Sounds like heaven…sounds like a portal to heaven, omgosh…I heard that before…somethings happening people.
When first hearing the sound, I immediately thought of the heroic people who rushed in those buildings not thinking of their own lives, but thinking of their fellow man. It reminds me how one country, under God, selflessly went to the aid of others and there was suddenly no race issues, no jealousy, harmony among all Americans as each of us mourned the loss of those we did not know. The howling reminds me of Power and the power in that building revealed the power of Almighty God as He is reminding us to never forget the love we had for our fellow man that day, how race was not an issue, how love permeated our souls for those lost that day that changed America forever. Since it is impossible for the heroes that died that day to be wailing, it is a forever reminder of God’s hand on this country and how He spared us from even more disasters. We praise you Christ for loving every American and those who gave their lives that day for others. May God Bless America and watch over us every day. Amen.