Hi all! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend filled with fun, family, and of course, lots of great food. This past month has been a busy one, so it was nice to take a couple of days just to relax and spend time with family, with no obligations (besides maybe eating an extra slice of pumpkin pie!) I hope that however you spent your weekend, it was a great one.
Today I wanted to share a unique spot in Kitchener-Waterloo, which will be of interest to those of you who enjoy history or architecture – or both! First of all, I have to admit that I’m incapable of taking any sort of road trip – even if the drive is only an hour long – without finding at least one cool place to stop at along the way. It’s just how I’m wired – as soon as I know we’re driving anywhere, I’ve got Google Maps open, trying to find some fun little detours. Our recent trip to St. Jacobs was no exception. I’d been wanting to visit the Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower for some time, and when I saw that it was located right along our way, I was excited for the opportunity to stop and see this unique piece of history for myself!
Located in Kitchener on the banks of the Grand River, the Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower was built in 1926 to commemorate the German pioneers who arrived and settled in the Waterloo region between 1800 and 1803.
The building is beautiful and whimsical, and reminds me of Rapunzel’s tower. This informative article speaks to the building’s unique architecture:
“The tower’s random-coursed fieldstone, tapered ‘Swiss’ copper roof, and the Conestoga wagon weather vane reflect the German speaking European origin and farming lifestyle of these early settlers… The Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower is a very good example of a well-scaled design of simply detailed construction with a picturesque aesthetic. The tower shows excellent quality of craftsmanship and materials as evidenced by the cut fieldstone, and by the work on the tower’s entrance and observation deck.”
The tower received a Classified Federal Heritage Building designation for its historical and architectural significance. The tower itself isn’t open to visitors – except during special events like Doors Open Waterloo – but you can take a peek inside through the gate.
A plaque on the tower’s exterior details the history of Waterloo’s first Pennsylvania-German pioneers.
Walk a few steps west of the tower, and you’ll arrive at a lookout point offering picturesque views of the Grand River. We were here a couple of weeks ago when the leaves were just barely starting to turn, so I imagine that the views must be even better now, with all of the trees exploding in vibrant hues of red, yellow and orange. Close to the lookout is a small pioneer cemetery, where Waterloo’s earliest settlers are buried.
I love learning about local history, so I’m glad I got the chance to visit this unique spot. Do you know of any interesting historic buildings in Ontario that are worth a visit? Please let me know in the comments or send me an email – I’d love to hear your suggestions!