Harlem Fire Watchtower facts for kids
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Harlem Fire Watchtower
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Restored in 2020
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| Location | Marcus Garvey Park, East 122nd Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York |
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| Built | 1855-1857 |
| Architect | Julius H. Kroehl |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001240 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 21, 1976 |
The Harlem Fire Watchtower is a special old tower in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Manhattan. It's also called the Mount Morris Fire Watchtower. This tower is made of strong cast iron and stands about 47 feet tall.
It was built between 1855 and 1857 by Julius H. Kroehl. The design was created by James Bogardus. This tower is the only one left of eleven similar watchtowers that were once all over New York City.
Contents
Why Was the Watchtower Built?
Keeping New York City Safe
The Mount Morris Park tower started working in 1857. It was built because people in Harlem wanted a way to spot fires. Back then, many buildings in New York City were made of wood. This meant fires were very common and could spread quickly.
Volunteer firefighters would climb to the top of the tower. From there, they could look out for smoke and flames. When they saw a fire, they would ring a large bell to warn everyone. This helped spread the word quickly.
How Technology Changed Firefighting
Later, electric telegraphs were added to the towers. This allowed firefighters to send messages even faster. But the bell was still important for local alarms.
Over time, new inventions made these watchtowers less needed. Things like pull boxes, which let people report fires directly, became common. Because of these new technologies, the old watchtower system was stopped. Most of the other towers were eventually taken down.
The Harlem Fire Watchtower survived because it was in the middle of a park. This protected it from being destroyed.
The Watchtower's History and Restoration
A Landmark in the Park
During the 1930s, a big government program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped rebuild the area around the watchtower. This project created a beautiful plaza, sometimes called "the Acropolis." They also built strong stone walls and wide steps leading up to the tower. This made it easier for people to visit the tower.
The watchtower was recognized as an important city landmark in 1967. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it's a special historical site.
Challenges and Repairs
The watchtower faced many problems over the years. Bad weather and not enough care caused damage. The original copper roof fell off, letting water get inside. This made the metal parts rust. Many of the steps inside the tower went missing. Because of this, visitors could no longer climb up or get close to the tower, which was protected by a fence.
In 2013, some community groups worked together with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. They raised $4 million to fix the Harlem Watchtower. This big project was led by Valerie Jo Bradley.
Starting in late 2014, the tower was carefully taken apart. Each piece was restored to make sure the structure was strong and safe. After a lot of hard work, the tower reopened to visitors in December 2019.
