Scituate’s Sky-High Romance: The Story Behind Lawson Tower

Visitors are able to climb a 153-foot tower built over a century ago in the name of love to watch the full moon from there.

The 1902 Lawson Tower, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, looks like a story of Rapunzel but was actually the answer by businessman Thomas W. Lawson to an ugly water tank that his wife did not like when she came into their new home.

“It is unique in its own way”, says Robert Chessia who happens to be the acting president and chairperson of the board of trustees for Scituate Historical Society that takes care of maintaining the structure.

The town bought it off from Lawson in 1923 and emptied out its reservoir in 1988 when Scituate Water Company no longer used it.

Except for the climb which has 123 steep stairs, one would get a beautiful view of Scituate town including Scituate Light, Boston, North River and beyond.

“If you know where to look, you can just see the tower at Provincetown with the naked eye,” he said, referring to the Pilgrim Monument.

Lawson was one of the wealthiest people in America during the turn of the 20th century, according to Chessia, a Charlestown native, and frequently rented summer homes on the South Shore. One day Lawson and his wife Jeannie rode through Scituate in a horse and carriage.

“His wife said, ‘What a beautiful place for a farm.’ So he went out immediately and acquired 350 acres and constructed this estate for her,” said Chessia.

The Lawsons would eventually own nearly 1,000 acres and built an elaborate summer home there called Dreamwold.

“He had a racing stable that was 800 feet long for his racers,” Chessia stated. “At one point in time he owned around 200 horses, 200 dogs –his favorite breed being bulldogs– as well as several thousands of birds, sheep, cows, a bear and even a monkey.”

As the house emerged slowly from the ground, one thing that did Jeannie’s head in was the nearby steel water tank.

“Why don’t you talk on it?” Chessia said.

So he sent his architect to Europe to do some research about design ideas. They got inspired by a watch tower built in the 15th century near Rhine river. Lawson enclosed the tank and spent $60,000 on a tower, according to Chessia. This was done by Charles Logue, an Irishman who also constructed Fenway park in Boston.

The bells were an addition made by Lawson himself.

“He put 10 bells up there; they play music or strike the hour, even chime in the morning and evening,” said Chessia. “This was all done just to make her happy.”

The Meneely Bell Company in Troy NY made the bells which vary from 300lbs to 3000lbs and are played from the ground via a console room according to the society. In 2021 Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall visited this town located next to sea and played these bells for himself. Scituate is known as America’s most Irish town while Lawson Tower forms part of South Shore Irish Heritage Trail.

Jeannie was ill and died in 1906, four years after they built the tower, said Chessia, and Lawson never married again due to his heartbreak. Six children were born to them.

According to the society, Lawson’s career was long and turbulent at times. He is famous for his stock manipulations and penned down “Frenzied Finance: The Crime of Amalgamated,” a book published in 1906. The society explains that by 1925, he had “almost no money left” and all of his properties were sold to repay the debt he owed.

A visitor can gain access to the tower five times a year during scheduled open houses for $3 per person. The last open house this year will take place on September 15th.

The tower can also be visited during “Trips to the Top,” giving visitors an opportunity to see the full moon reflected off its walls. Those who are interested should take note that September 19th, October 17th, November 16th, and December15th are the remaining dates for this event costing $10. History of the tower is presented by Scituate Historical Society members while South Shore Astronomical Society provides telescopes meant for viewing purposes only. There is need for registration prior any trip.

The last two free concerts will be performed by Lenae Badger at the bottom of the tower, on October 27th and December 22nd, in order to hear the sounds produced from this towers bells.