Connecticut western news., 1872-01-19
WndSwOrth Tower.

Friend Pease.-Permit me to giI e your readers brief description of the tower on Talcott mountain, which attracted so much attention from our late Salisbury excursion party, as they passed in sight of it on their way to Hartford over the Conn. Wes- tern road. This account I take. partly from my own knowledge gained by living near the tower and partly from history. In the north east corner of the town of Avon. and about two miles north of the old AL bany and Hartford turnpike which passes over the Talcott mountain is Wadsworth tower, so called from Daniel Wadsworth Esq, of Hartford. who erected it, and also near it summer-house. This place is called Monte Video, and is remarkable for it's beauty in natural scenery, the view bounding the east by the ridge which in many places rises in perpendicular cliffs, more than one hundred feet above the gen. eral surface of the mountain. The space or hollow caused by the absence of the ridge, is occupied by deep lake of the purest of water nearly half mile in length, and somewhat less than that in width. Directly before you to the north, and ex- tending about half mile, is a scene of cultivation interspersed with trees, in the center of which stands summer house. The tower was situated on the summit of the ridge, standing within few rods of the edge of precipice. The tower was hexagon of l l feet diameter and fifty five feet high, with an easy ascent of about eighty steps on the inside the top, which was nine hundred and sixty feet above the level of the Connecticut river, afforded at one view all those objects which have been seen separately from the differant stations below. This tower remained in Wads- worth's name till within few years, when it passed into the hands of Hon. MT. Dix son of this state, who retained it until about 10 years ago when it was burned. The property was then purchased by Hartford spectators, who had the mountain sur veyed and found more desirable situation some half mile distant, where the present tower is erected. This is seventy feet high and like it's predecessor, hexigenical, with winding stairs inside. Upon the top is balcony, which will hold twelve persons. and by the aid of glass you have in diameter view in two directions, more than ninety miles extending into the neighborine states of Massachusetts and New York. viewing all the prominent villages and cities in Massachusetts. The eye can by the aid of glass in clear day view some of the sceneries on the Hudson ri ger. The little spot of cultivated land surrounding the house, and the lake with its picturesque appendage of boats, winding paths and Gothic buildings, shut in by rocks and for est, l am informed composes the fore ground of this grand panorama. On the east is spread before you the great plain through which the Connecticut river winds it's course. and upon the borders of which the towns and villages are traced for more than forty miles. The most conspicuous place is Hartford, eight miles distant, where by the aid of a glass you can trace the car rlages passing in different streets. and distinctly discern the motion and position of vessels as they appear and vanish upor the river. The whole of this mag nificent picture. including within it's vast extent cultivated plains, rugged mountains, rivers. towns and villages, is encircled by a dis, tant outline of blue mountains rising in endless variety. Exc17pr1oN1sr
 Chapinville, Jan. 1872.