The Walter Scott Memorial Tower, often referred to as Scott Tower, is a stone tower built in 1940 in Holyoke, Massachusetts.[1] The tower was constructed in Anniversary Hill Park,[2] and was named after the original owner and donor of the land, Col. Walter Scott.[3] Improvements in the 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration allowed for access via trails and footbridges,[3] but since the 2000s the tower has been subject to graffiti and vandalism.[4] Further improvements in 2023 were slated to allow for wheelchair access to the tower.[5]
History
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".[6] 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.[7] The tower was used as a lookout for blackout tests in the following years.[8]
In 1961, the construction of Interstate 91 passed through Anniversary Hill Park, cutting off the western part of the park where Scott Tower was located.[9] Little was done with the park for several decades that followed. In 2000, AT&T proposed the construction of a cell phone tower near the Scott Tower,[2] which was completed in 2001. Improvements proposed from 2021 would allow for wheelchair access and underground burial of utilities connected to the cell phone tower, which were approved in November 2023.[9]
References
- ^ Rodrigue, Donald R. (October 24, 1966). "Scott Park, Tower, Being Considered For Recreation Area, In Poor Shape".
- ^ a b Roessler, Mark (November 6, 2008). "A Tale of Two Towers". Valley Advocate.
- ^ a b "Anniversary Field". Historical Tours of Greater Holyoke. 21 December 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ The Republican Editorials (December 13, 2022). "Holyoke restoration of Anniversary Hill and Scott Tower in worthy investment for future generations (Editorial)". MassLive.
- ^ "Phase I Anniversary Hill Park Improvements Set to Begin in Holyoke". Holyoke Office of Conservation and Sustainability. November 14, 2023.
- ^ "Re-envisioning Holyoke's Historic Anniversary Hill Park". Kestrel Land Trust. October 6, 2021.
- ^ "Anniversary Hill Development Will Require Two Years More". Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram. January 6, 1940.
- ^ "Military And Civilian Defense Officials View Valley Blackout Test From Top Of Scott's Tower". Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram. March 24, 1942.
- ^ a b Pentland, James (November 14, 2023). "Work to begin at Holyoke's Anniversary Hill Park". Daily Hampshire Gazette.