Haystack Mountain Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Haystack Mountain Tower
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 43 North St., Norfolk, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Rossiter & Muller |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Jacobean Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001244 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1993 |
The Haystack Mountain Tower is a cool stone tower. It sits way up high on Haystack Mountain in Norfolk, Connecticut. This mountain is part of Haystack Mountain State Park. The tower was built in 1929. A kind person named Ellen Battell Stoeckel gave the tower and the land to the public. From the top, you can see amazing views of three different states! You can even see Long Island Sound. The tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This means it's an important historical site.
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About the Haystack Mountain Tower
The Haystack Mountain State Park is just north of Norfolk village. You can get there by driving on Stoeckel Drive. This road takes you right up to the top of Haystack Mountain. That's where the tower stands!
What the Tower Looks Like
The tower is about 50 feet (15 m) tall. It is also about 22 feet (6.7 m) wide. It's built mostly from dark grey granite stone. This stone was dug up right there on the mountain. The stones are placed in a random pattern. The spaces between them are filled with deep mortar.
Inside the tower, you'll find concrete steps. These steps lead up to different levels. From the second level, wooden stairs take you even higher. They lead to a metal platform where you can look out. This platform has a pointy roof over it.
Amazing Views from the Top
The tower has eight openings at the top. These openings let you see in every direction. On a clear day, you can see parts of New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. You might even see as far south as Long Island Sound!
History of the Haystack Mountain Tower
The tower was designed by Ehrick K. Rossiter. He was part of a company called Rossiter & Muller. The tower has an old-fashioned, castle-like design. It was built in 1929.
The tower cost about $50,000 to build. Mrs. Ellen Battell Stoeckel paid for it. She gave it as a gift to remember her husband, Carl Stoeckel. Mrs. Stoeckel also gave the first pieces of land that became the state park. The tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
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