In the small town of Warren, New Hampshire, a surprising landmark greets visitors—a genuine ballistic missile (known in town as the “Redstone Rocket”), standing tall against the mountainous backdrop. How did a Cold War-era ballistic missile from Alabama’s Redstone Arsenal end up in this quiet New England town? It’s a story of community, ingenuity, and a little New Hampshire pride, sparked by one man’s vision.
In 1970, Ted Asselin, a New Hampshire native serving in the Army at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, noticed a field filled with retired Redstone missiles. Made obsolete by newer technology, these rockets were slated for display purposes or, eventually, disposal. Ted saw more than just a military relic; he saw an opportunity. Far removed from the space race and America’s growing space program, the children of Warren had little connection to this pivotal time in science and technology. Bringing one of these rockets to his hometown could inspire curiosity and maybe even a passion for science. And with New Hampshire’s own Alan B. Shepard Jr. as one of NASA’s pioneering astronauts, it seemed fitting to bring a piece of space history home.
Ted proposed his idea to the Army, which agreed to release a Redstone for display to a town, but on one condition: the Army would bear none of the costs. Despite the challenge, Ted remained committed. In 1971, he presented his idea to the town of Warren, and the townspeople embraced it. Soon after, he and Irving MacDonald of nearby Dorchester, New Hampshire, set off on an ambitious mission to bring the rocket north. With a 60-foot trailer lent by Lew Brown, the two began their 1,300-mile journey from Alabama to New Hampshire. The trip was anything but smooth: a fine in Ohio for lacking permits, an unplanned route that led them through parts of New Hampshire without an escort, and even a breakdown on Concord’s Main Street, requiring a tow to the New Hampshire State House.
The story doesn’t end there. As word spread of the rocket’s imminent arrival in Warren, a group of excited residents jumped into their cars, eager to greet the convoy as it approached from nearby Wentworth. However, their initial “missile sighting” turned out to be a septic tank truck—a moment that reportedly left Ted chuckling at how his vision had already ignited excitement in Warren.
After countless hurdles, the missile finally reached Warren in April 1971. With the combined efforts of countless volunteers and generous local support, the Redstone was erected and formally dedicated by then-Governor Walter Peterson in July 1971. From that moment on, the missile became one of New Hampshire’s most photographed attractions. It has since been featured on WMUR’s NH Chronicle with Fritz Wetherbee and earned a place in the book Roadside America, cementing its role as a unique piece of Americana and a point of pride for the people of Warren.
Warren’s Redstone Missile is more than just a quirky roadside attraction; it’s a testament to what one person with a dream can bring to a community. Thanks to Ted Asselin’s vision and determination, generations of New Hampshire residents and visitors have been inspired to look up at the rocket and wonder about the vastness of space and the possibilities beyond.
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