With permission from Mayor Carolyn Kirk I was able to climb a series of stairs and ladders to the top of Gloucester's historic City Hall tower. After a fire destroyed the original building, work was begun in 1870 for a then sum of $100,000! Recently the tower has received renovations to correct a lean in the tower and has been strengthened. The windows weren't the cleanest but I managed to get these shots. My handheld GPS showed 133' above ground level at the upper most reaches.
External view!
Central Fire Headquarters!
Good Harbor Beach and Thacher Island!
Good Harbor Beach!
The Greasy Pole!
Harbor Loop and Rocky Neck!
Looking down towards Pleasant Street!
The Fort,Ten Pound Island and the breakwater!
Looking east!
Harbor view!
Looking southwest!
Looking north!
The clock's inner workings!
Bell!
Bell and striker!
Another view of the bell and striker!
The bell again!
Looking up from inside the tower!
Inside the tower!
That is very interesting Jay. What an opportunity for you!
ReplyDeleteThe fort, TPI, and the breakwater view is a really interesting and beautiful view. Was it scary going up the stairs? I'm not one for heights so I doubt I could have done it.
The stairs turned into ladders. Some looked at least as old as the building! And one set had aluminum ladders tied to them! During my younger days I was a roofer and installed antennas atop fishing vessel masts so the height doesn't bother me. It's the rickety ladders & stairs I worry about.
ReplyDeleteI love your pictures. especially the ones you can see the ocean in. The whole town and the harbor with those ships is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThe CT Traveler
Thanks "CT"!
ReplyDeleteWe agree!
THEESE ARE AWESOME JAY!!!!!!GREAT JOB
ReplyDeleteThank you for the bird's eye view. Sitting 500 miles away - you helped make me feel closer to the place I called home for so long.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Jay!
ReplyDeleteHey! I can see my house!!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent, Jay. Really excellent.
Thanks all, Living here all my life I finally got to go up there. A couple of cuts from splinters but it was well worth it!
ReplyDeleteHey Kathleen....Is that you in the window?
I see our house too! An a lot of places that I've shot the tower from. What a fun post.
ReplyDeletewhat a great view it would be a nice spot for some privately own condo's
ReplyDeleteGreat views yes...condo's no!
ReplyDeleteI think someone is trying to rile you up Jay. lol!
ReplyDeleteI always wondered what the clock looked like. Were you up there when the clock chimed?
ReplyDeleteNo....That would have given me a headache!
ReplyDelete