Scott Tower
{{Short description|Monument in Holyoke, Massachusetts}}
File:Scott Tower external other side 2024.jpg
The Walter Scott Memorial Tower, often referred to as Scott Tower, is a stone tower built in 1940 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States.{{Cite news |date=January 23, 1940 |title=Stone Observation Tower In Scott Park |url=http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screenshot-2022-11-07-at-3.29.39-PM.png |work=Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram |pages=12 |access-date=2024-03-14 |archive-date=2024-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311152917/http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screenshot-2022-11-07-at-3.29.39-PM.png |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2022-08-17-at-4.26.24-PM.png |title=Scott Park, Tower, Being Considered For Recreation Area, In Poor Shape |date=October 24, 1966 |first=Donald R. |last=Rodrigue |access-date=2024-03-11 |archive-date=2024-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311152838/http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2022-08-17-at-4.26.24-PM.png |url-status=live }} The tower was constructed in Anniversary Hill Park{{cite web |url=https://valleyadvocate.com/2008/11/06/a-tale-of-two-towers/ |title=A Tale of Two Towers |first=Mark |last=Roessler |website=Valley Advocate |date=November 6, 2008 |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311135602/https://valleyadvocate.com/2008/11/06/a-tale-of-two-towers/ |url-status=live }} and was named after the original owner and donor of the land Colonel Walter Scott.{{cite web |url=http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/anniversary-field/ |title=Anniversary Field |publisher=Historical Tours of Greater Holyoke |date=21 December 2021 |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=11 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311152838/http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/anniversary-field/ |url-status=live }} Improvements in the 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration allowed for access via trails and footbridges, but since the 2000s the tower has been subject to graffiti and vandalism.{{cite web |url=https://www.masslive.com/opinion/2022/12/holyoke-restoration-of-anniversary-hill-and-scott-tower-in-worthy-investment-for-future-generations-editorial.html |title=Holyoke restoration of Anniversary Hill and Scott Tower in worthy investment for future generations (Editorial) |date=December 13, 2022 |author=((The Republican Editorials)) |website=MassLive |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311135602/https://www.masslive.com/opinion/2022/12/holyoke-restoration-of-anniversary-hill-and-scott-tower-in-worthy-investment-for-future-generations-editorial.html |url-status=live }} Further improvements in 2023 were slated to allow for wheelchair access to the tower.{{cite web |url=https://www.holyoke.org/phase-i-anniversary-hill-park-improvements-set-to-begin-in-holyoke/ |title=Phase I Anniversary Hill Park Improvements Set to Begin in Holyoke |date=November 14, 2023 |publisher=Holyoke Office of Conservation and Sustainability |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311135602/https://www.holyoke.org/phase-i-anniversary-hill-park-improvements-set-to-begin-in-holyoke/ |url-status=live }}
History
File:Tower at Scott Park, Anniversary Hill, Holyoke, Mass (71672).jpg
The land Scott Tower was built on, Anniversary Hill, was provided to the city of Holyoke through several donations from 1923 through 1939 to commemorate the city's 50th anniversary. The scope of the project was to create Holyoke's "own version of New York City's Central Park".{{cite web |url=https://www.kestreltrust.org/holyoke-anniversary-hill-park-vision-2021/ |title=Re-envisioning Holyoke's Historic Anniversary Hill Park |date=October 6, 2021 |publisher=Kestrel Land Trust |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311152838/https://www.kestreltrust.org/holyoke-anniversary-hill-park-vision-2021/ |url-status=live }} The tower was completed in 1940, and work was done by the Works Progress Administration to clear trails, provide walking paths, and provide amenities in the area such as a baseball field and ski slope.{{cite news |newspaper=Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram |url=http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/image-6.png |date=January 6, 1940 |title=Anniversary Hill Development Will Require Two Years More |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311152841/http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/image-6.png |url-status=live }} The tower was used as a lookout for blackout tests in the following years,{{cite news |date=March 24, 1942 |url=http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-3.39.44-PM.png |title=Military And Civilian Defense Officials View Valley Blackout Test From Top Of Scott's Tower |newspaper=Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram |access-date=2024-03-11 |archive-date=2024-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311152840/http://www.holyokecanaltour.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-3.39.44-PM.png |url-status=live }} and for a time, the area saw frequent use, mainly by nature enthusiasts and sledders.
In 1960, the construction of Interstate 91 passed through Anniversary Hill Park, cutting off the western part of the park where Scott Tower was located and limiting accessibility;{{Cite web |last=Munford |first=Aprell May |date=November 11, 2023 |title=Improvements at Anniversary Hill Park in Holyoke begin Wednesday |url=https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/11/improvements-at-anniversary-hill-park-in-holyoke-begin-wednesday.html |website=MassLive |access-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314161242/https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/11/improvements-at-anniversary-hill-park-in-holyoke-begin-wednesday.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Work-to-begin-on-Anniversary-Hill-Park-improvements-52987123 |title=Work to begin at Holyoke's Anniversary Hill Park |website=Daily Hampshire Gazette |date=November 14, 2023 |first=James |last=Pentland |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311152837/https://www.gazettenet.com/Work-to-begin-on-Anniversary-Hill-Park-improvements-52987123 |url-status=live }} in the following years, the public use of the area significantly decreased. Little was done with the park for several decades that followed, though the tower was cleaned of graffiti in the 1970s thanks to the Legacy of Parks conservation program. In 2000, AT&T proposed the construction of a cell phone tower near the Scott Tower, which was completed in 2001. Improvements proposed in 2021 would allow for wheelchair access and underground burial of utilities connected to the cell phone tower, which were approved in November 2023.{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Ashley |date=November 13, 2023 |title=Holyoke's largest park undergoes restoration of trails to Scott Tower |url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/holyokes-largest-park-undergoes-restoration-of-trails-to-scott-tower/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |publisher=WWLP |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314155923/https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/holyokes-largest-park-undergoes-restoration-of-trails-to-scott-tower/ |url-status=live }}
Description
File:Scott Tower central tower graffiti upper plaza inner wall 2 2024.jpg
Scott Tower is a {{Convert|56|ft|m|abbr=off|adj=on}} tall stone tower built from stones excavated from the hill it stands on. The tower can be ascended to its top observation platform via a spiral staircase. The tower has been subject to graffiti throughout most of its existence. Due to the road under Interstate 91 being closed, visitors must walk a mile-long road to reach the tower.{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=Tom |title=Scott Tower |url=https://www.goxplr.com/places/scott-tower |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Goxplr |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314155925/https://www.goxplr.com/places/scott-tower |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Holyoke, Massachusetts}}
{{Wikidatacoord|Q125146252|type:landmark_region:US-MA|display=title}}
Category:Geography of Holyoke, Massachusetts
Category:Monuments and memorials completed in the 1940s
Category:Monuments and memorials in Massachusetts