High Rock Tower Reservation

The High Rock Tower Reservation (or High Rock Tower Park) is a city park of Lynn, Massachusetts. The roughly 4.5-acre (1.8 ha) park encompasses the summit area of a hill with commanding views of the surrounding area, as well as the Atlantic Ocean which is only half a mile away. The park's principal attraction is the High Rock Tower, a stone structure measuring 85 feet high, built in 1905, replacing an earlier tower built by Jesse Hutchinson of the Hutchinson Family Singers, a politically-active abolitionist singing group that performed throughout the northern United States from the 1840s to about 1880. Jesse Hutchinson acquired the property from the Pawtucket natives, and by 1846 built two Gothic Revival cottages (known as High Rock Cottage and Daisy Cottage) and later other cottages as well as the first tower which burnt down during a celebration of the Civil War's end.[2] The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (as "High Rock Tower–High Rock Cottage and Daisy Cottage") in 1979.[1] The lands surrounding the tower were protected by The Trust for Public Land and conveyed to the City of Lynn in 1988.[3]

High Rock Tower–High Rock Cottage and Daisy Cottage
High Rock Tower Park
Location15, 17 Campbell Terr. and High Rock Park, Lynn, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°28′3″N 70°56′54″W
Area4.3 acres (1.7 ha)
Built1847 (1847)
ArchitectLewis and Harney; Wheeler and Betton
Architectural styleRomanesque
NRHP reference No.09000086[1]
Added to NRHPOctober 11, 1979

High Rock Tower is featured prominently on the Lynn city seal. It is one of five structures in Lynn designed by Holman K. Wheeler which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The City of Lynn has periodically opened the tower and observatory to the public for free use of the telescope. This practice continues in summer 2018, with scheduled evenings in July and August.[2]

In 2017, the community organization Centerboard raised $45,000 for the installation of LED lighting and a laser projector for two of the four sides of High Rock Tower.[4] Additional grant funding was obtained in 2018, for LED and laser illumination of the remaining two sides of the tower.[5]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "High Rock Tower". City of Lynn, Massachusetts. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
  3. Salem Registry of Deeds, Book 09542. http://www.salemdeeds.com: Salem Registry of Deeds. 1988-06-01. pp. 553, 556, Instrument Numbers 19880601003040 and 19880601003050.
  4. "The Illumination of High Rock Tower". Centerboard. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  5. "The Lights Will Stay On At Lynn's High Rock Tower Thanks To A Crowdfunding Campaign". Lynn Item. Retrieved 2018-08-15.


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