Lawson Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Lawson Tower
|
|
Lawson Tower, Scituate, Massachusetts. The tower was part of Lawson's Dreamwold estate.
|
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Scituate Center, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Coolidge & Carlson |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001963 |
| Added to NRHP | September 28, 1976 |
The Lawson Tower is a special building in Scituate Center, Massachusetts. It looks like a turret from a European castle! Built in 1902, this tower was made to hide a big steel water tank.
Today, it's a very important local landmark. The water company stopped using the tank in 1988. The tower is now a popular place for visitors. You can see amazing views of the South Shore, including the Old Scituate Light and Minot's Ledge Light. It's also listed as an American Water Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
What is the Lawson Tower?
The tower is a tall structure, about 153 feet (47 m) high. It has a steel frame inside. The outside is covered with wood shingles. It looks like a fancy castle tower.
At the top, there are two round sections. One holds bells, and the other has a clock. A pointed roof covers the very top of the tower.
Why was the tower built?
A steel water tank was built in 1900 by the Scituate Water Company. This company supplied water to the area.
Right next door, a rich businessman named Thomas W. Lawson was building his huge estate called "Dreamwold." He didn't like looking at the plain water tank. So, he made a deal with the water company. He paid to have the tank covered up in a beautiful way. That's how the Lawson Tower was created!
The Amazing Bells and Clock
Lawson also wanted bells for the tower. He hired the Meneely Bell Foundry to put ten bells at the top. These bells are very big. They range in weight from 300 pounds to 3,000 pounds!
This bell system was special. It could be played in two ways. Someone could play the bells from a special room 80 feet up. Or, they could play them from a console in another room.
A Smart Safety Feature
The tower has a built-in sprinkler system. This was a smart idea! It was added after a similar wooden water tower in East Boston burned down in the early 1900s. The sprinklers help protect the Lawson Tower from fire.
