LURAY BELL TOWER (HW3278)
State: VA
County: Page
Quad: Luray
Location: N 38° 39.808' W078° 28.730'
Elevation: Unknown
Designation: LURAY BELL TOWER 1965
Setting: Tower
Type: Landmark/Intersection Station
Year: 1965
Established By: NGS
Recovered: 02 October 2006
On the morning of our last day in Virginia, Rich and I couldn't resist taking the short detour into town from our hotel and logging this tower before heading back into Shenandoah National Park. I'm glad we waited rather than trying to take a photograph at night or in the rain. This Monday morning was warm and sunny, and the perfect weather provided a deep blue sky as a background.
The tower is a lovely landmark and probably makes beautiful music—but we missed the free carillon recitals, which are held frequently throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Given to the town of Luray in 1937 by Colonel T.C. Northcott and his daughter, it serves as a memorial to the Colonel's wife, Belle Brown Northcott. The tower stands 117 feet tall and contains a carillon of 47 bells (ranging from 12.5 to 7640 pounds!).
As a small bonus, we unexpectedly came upon a letterbox sitting out in the grass just a few yards from the tower. We logged in and rehid the container in the most appropriate spot we could find. I'm glad we were the ones to find it, rather than someone who didn't know (or didn't care) what it was.
A report on the condition of this landmark station has been submitted to NGS.
Zhanna
NGS Official Description, 1965 (see datasheet for recent updates) :
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1965 (ELH) THE LURAY BELL TOWER IS LOCATED ABOUT 1.0 MILE WEST OF LURAY AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE LURAY CAVERNS. THE STRUCTURE IS BUILT OF STONE, ABOUT 75 FOOT IN OVER-ALL HEIGHT AND THE TOP AND CENTER WAS THE POINT INTERSECTED.
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...HW3278, Page County, VAN 38° 39.805' W 078° 28.728' |
...Plaque in memory of Belle Brown Northcott. |
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