The dozens of dog-walkers, hikers, joggers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders traversing the Lynn Woods Reservation this week will be hearing a new sound among the usual symphony of bird calls and chipmunk chirps – the rhythms of reconstruction on its famous Stone Tower of Burrill Hill, the highest point of the park.
Stone Tower, built initially by the WPA during the Great Depression, will be restored to match the original 48 foot structure complete with a raised roof and belvedere to take advantage of the incredible view. The structure was first created for fire observation for the surrounding areas but provides an impressive 360 degree vista of Lynn’s waterfront, Boston, the towers at the Fells and the surrounding forests.
During the 1950s, just twenty-odd years since construction on the Tower had been completed, a hurricane pulled off the original wooden watch house that topped the structure. The Tower fell into further destruction to its steps, hip-wall and buttresses during the 1970’s and early 80’s when the Reservation was all but abandoned.
Despite the damage and vandalism that led to the closing of the Tower, it remained a field trip standard for many local schoolchildren as well as a favorite play area for many young Lynn residents. It was this emotional attachment to the Lynn landmark as well as the many additional resources in the 2,200 acre reservation that helped lead to the formation and incorporation of a non-profit community group called “The Friends of Lynn Woods” (FLW) in 1990. The FLW, in cooperation with the city’s Office of Economic and Community Development, have spear-headed the fundraising for the restoration of Stone Tower.
The FLW promotes the Lynn Woods Reservation as a public resource and strives to maintain its integrity as a wildlife preserve. Protecting the Woods from development, it encourages residents to partake in its natural beauty safely and with respect to its necessity as a water reserve for Lynn and the surrounding communities. Shows at the Amphitheater, Foliage tours, Earth Day festivals, and Dungeon Rock Days provide funds for many improvement and conservation projects including the Stone Tower restoration.
The Office of Community Development has been instrumental in preparing the restoration, employing engineers to test the integrity of the foundation and the surrounding bedrock. Luckily, the structure was diagnosed as “saveable.” The plans were drawn out, fundraising events were held, and materials were assembled. The same type of indigenous rocks gleaned from the surrounding woods that the WPA workers gathered in the 1930s were collected by volunteers to rebuild the exterior staircase and reface the octagonal tower itself.
Dan Small, the Lynn Woods Ranger, comments on the reconstruction, “We are hoping it will be done by the end of September. There will be a reopening when completed.”
In spite of the generosity of private donations, City funds and the grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the construction totals have not yet been met. The Friends of Lynn Woods are still planning fundraising events that include a comedy night at Lynn City Hall Auditorium on October 29th, as well as a golf tournament at Gannon Golf Course in the fall. Tax-deductable donations can be made to the Stone Tower fun at http://www.flw.org or by mail to the Friends of Lynn Woods, PO Box 8216, Lynn, MA 01904. Please specify “Stone Tower Fund” in the Memo Line.
For additional information, call the Lynn Woods Ranger at 781 477-7123, or email lynnwoodsranger@aol.com.