Painting of Lawson Tower in Scituate, Massachusetts.
This is painting is of the European style turrets on Lawson Tower in my home town of Scituate, MA. Its medival inspired exterior once hid a very utilitarian standpipe watertower.
The story I grew up with and heard on grade school field trips was that Thomas Lawson, a rich investor from Boston built an estate in Scituate which he named “Dreamworld.” It was an idylic farm and the perfect place to escape to from busy city life. In 1901 the town decided to build a water tower, which Mrs. Lawson could see from her kitchen window, thought was an eyesore, and begged her wealthy husband to do something about it.
Mr. Lawson hired an architect to go research European towers and come back with a plan. The architect returned with a sketch of a 15th century tower. Mr. Lawson then offered to build a similar tower around the standpipe entirely at his own expense. The town agreed.
The construction was completed in 1902, complete with the addition of a set of bells from a foundry in New York. It was a working watertower well into the 1980’s. The interior tower has since mostly been removed, leaving only the empty shell that once disguised it. Tours of Lawson Tower are available through the Scituate Historical Society.
Original Painting
The original painting was done oil pastels on 17.5″ x 24″ MDF panel and is available for sale. For purchasing information, please contact me.
Purchase Turrents of Lawson Tower Prints
Custom framed prints, canvas prints, metal prints, and other products featuring the painting, Turrents of Lawson Tower, are available at my print site, fineartnewengland.pixels.com.