A QUEST TO PRESERVE THE WILDERNESS
That’s when the veteran reporter decided to do her research. She found that, in 1899, John E. Hubbard bequeathed the City of Montpelier 134 acres to create a park or, in his words, “preserve wilderness” for future generations. In response, the city established a Parks Commission to manage the new lands.

John E. Hubbard, for whom the park is named.  

Commissioner of Hubbard Park, Harry Cutler. 

In 1907, they invited Dana Dow, a landscape architect from Boston, to consult on the project, and the following year he submitted a detailed proposal that included contour maps, walking paths, picnic areas, and a proposal for a road leading hikers to the highest point in the park.

The plaque at the base of the tower designating the gift of the land to the city by John E. Hubbard.  

PLANNING AN OBSERVATORY

He wrote: “The objective point of the road is the summit of the park and here some suitable structure should mark the spot. To attract people, there must be something for them to visit, and hence here is the proper place for a building which might be termed the ‘Observatory.’”

The highest point was on the land behind the Capitol, which was owned by Jesse S. Viles, and was, at that time, located just outside the park. But the idea for the observatory won over Viles and, in 1911, he deeded the Capitol Hill parcel to the park.

To reach the Hubbard Stone Tower, follow the Tower Loop Trail. 

REPURPOSING ANCIENT STONES

Park Commissioner Harry Cutler took over the design of the tower and hired stone mason John Miglierini to execute the plans. Miglierini and his crew began work on the observation tower in 1915. They used stones gathered from nearby abandoned walls and fences previously used to mark the hillside as a grazing pasture.

The tower was completed in 1930 for a total cost of $8,000. The inner terrace was added at a later date. The base of the tower features picnic tables and benches, as well as a large grassy field for picnicking. Surrounding the tower are fruit and nut trees that were planted to attract wildlife to the area.

A vintage postcard of the Stone Tower