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DONATION ALLOWS FOX HILL TOWER WAR MEMORIAL TO
REOPEN -- The historic 72-foot stone structure
was slated for
closure for the entire year in order to meet
fiscal constraints.
Fox Hill Tower War Memorial -- Vernon, CT
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Donation allows Fox Hill Tower to reopen
By: Kym Soper, Journal Inquirer
VERNON - Fox Hill War Memorial Tower, which fell victim to budget cuts
and had been closed to visitors, will reopen thanks to a donation from
local businessman Eric Santini, Mayor Ellen L. Marmer announced today.
The historic 72-foot stone structure was slated for closure for the
entire year in order to meet fiscal constraints. It shut its doors to
visitors for the first time in years last week.
Santini plans to present a check of $1,300 to the town during a ceremony
at the tower, located in Henry Park, on Wednesday at 3 p.m., Marmer
announced.
Built in 1939 by the Work Projects Administration during the Depression,
the memorial, also known as Fox Hill Tower, stands as the town's symbol
and is depicted on the town seal.
The structure, which is a memorial to Vernon's war veterans, is three
stories high and made with granite quarried locally. Standing upon the
693-foot hill north of downtown Rockville, it can be seen far and wide
and offers views as distant as Holyoke, Mass., and Meriden.
About 1,800 people visit the site each year, and an occasional wedding
ceremony is held at its base.
The tower typically is opened seasonally on weekend afternoons and on
Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. There is no charge to go into the tower, but
because of its historical significance and great height, supervision is
necessary, town officials say.
When the tower was shut down last week, town officials told the Journal
Inquirer it cost the town about $1,300 annually to operate, with Park
and Recreation supervisors allocated about $8 or $9 an hour to staff the
building.
It's been nearly 20 years since the tower last had to be closed.
In 1986 the tower was shut down for a time as it underwent a full
renovation at a cost of $250,000. It closed again for a week or so in
1994 as it was spruced up with paint and new windows for around $8,500.
This latest closure came about because of budget cuts, however.
The Town Council in May had department heads reduce their budgets by 2
percent across the board in an attempt to have a third budget pass
referendum.
That proposal failed, and even further reductions were needed before
voters finally approved a $72.79 million budget, representing a 2.95
percent increase in spending over last year's $70.71 million package, in
a fourth referendum.
Last week, Marmer said closing the tower was unfortunate, but necessary
as the town had economic priorities.
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Larry Scott --
