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Lawson Tower
330 First Parish Road
Millionaire
Thomas W. Lawson ordered the construction of Lawson Tower as a complement
to his new country estate, “Dreamwold,” at the beginning of
the twentieth century. Local legend says that after the Scituate Water
Company constructed its steel standpipe, Lawson’s wife Jeannie saw
it and asked her husband to do something about the view out their back
windows at Dreamwold Hall. Lawson then hired an architect to travel to
Europe and research appropriate designs to cover up the standpipe. Recent
research, though, suggests that Lawson knew of the water company’s
plans well before the standpipe went up, and had plans in mind well in
advance.
Conflicting theories also arise as to the exact tower
Lawson’s creation was patterned after. Early research showed the
possibility of a tower at Stahleck Castle on the Rhine River in Germany
as being the template, while new research reveals similarities between
Lawson Tower and a spa at Bad Ems, Germany. In any event, the result is
the most photographed, most beautiful water tower in the world. And most expensive!
The past several years has seen an enormous amount
of activity at the site. The steel standpipe that Lawson covered is now
almost completely gone, removed to ten feet in height over the spring
of 2002. The tower’s bell system is now being repaired, the bells
sent to Cincinnati, Ohio for cleaning and refurbishing, the bell frame
being rebuilt, and the chains that run from the ground level console room
to the carillon being repaired as well. The tower’s base was opened
for a special exhibition during Scituate Heritage Days 2002, but the tower
is now closed pending the completion of the restoration process. In the spring of 2004, thanks to CPA funds voted at the Special Town Meeting in October 2003, the bells were refurbished. IN the summer of 2005 the Tower will be reshingled.
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