Lawson Tower

 water tower, folly, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, 1902_construction

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From www.scituatehistoricalsociety.org/sites_tower.html

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!

Location: First Parish Road, Scituate Center, Massachusetts, United States