 | Whilst riding around the Fairfield neighborhood the other day I decided to visit Moss Rock Park, a small rocky hilltop, also known as Fairfield Hill. Photographers are a bit like goats in wanting always to get to the highest point available. Anyway, while I was up there I noticed a very tall strange looking tower that I hadn't really noticed before. Aha, I thought, the Coit Tower! Then I remembered that the Coit Tower is in San Francisco. After leaving the Abkhazi Garden (also in Fairfield) a few days later, we decided to try to get close to this mystery tower. It's in the Rockland neighborhood, off Laurel Lane, but it's not possible to get to it since it is surrounded by private homes. It's a water tower, 128 feet tall, built in 1909. It's no longer in use though for 25 years it bore a 22 foot neon flame that celebrated the centenary of the City of Victoria. This information comes from the Rockland Neighborhood Association Heritage Walking Tour. It's an interesting structure. The photo to the left was taken from Moss Rock Park to show this tower. (Click to enlarge.) The large gray house to the left of the tower is Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. |
Interesting Tower! Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteA real landmark visible from great distance,it's useful to know just where it is. I lived a block away from it for eight years in beautiful Rockland neighbourhood, just off Terrace Ave. Never knew about the sign once atop it. Interesting. It's great that it remains there even though no longer functional.
ReplyDeleteCool tower and yes it does remind one of Coit Tower! Did you know that Coit Tower was fashioned to resemble a fire hose? When Lillian Coit was a child, she was the mascot of the San Francisco fire dept. and she continued her support of the fire dept. to her death. She was honored with the tower.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate that you can't get any closer, I'm guessing the view from the old water tower would be a good one.
ReplyDeleteAmazingly well-maintained for a water tower that's no longer in use. The Governor's mansion looks huge!
ReplyDelete