I want to visit the Pioneer tower
which is built in 1926 B.C. because this Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower pays
tribute to the arrival of the Pennsylvania-German pioneers to the Waterloo
region between 1800 and 1803. Moreover, This building is visible symbol of the
rise of German-Canadian nationalism during the 1920s, which resulted from
anti-German sentiment, and cultural sanctions imposed on the community during
the First World War. Not only that, these Germans settled here and still
contributes their effort by developing Waterloo region.
Now, let’s come to the tower. The
Pioneer 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. So that I can go to the
observation deck and enjoy the gorgeous view of the Grand River. It is 18.9m
high that is enough to see observe the city Kitchener. Above the observation
desk, tapered "Swiss" copper roof, and the Conestoga wagon weather
vane reflect the German speaking European origin and farming lifestyle of these
early settlers. It has a simple well-proportioned profile, a tapered
cylindrical shaft of random coursed fieldstone supporting a molded concrete
cornice under a hexagonal gallery platform. The designation is confined to the
footprint of the building.
The Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower
is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical
associations, and its architectural and environmental values.
The Pioneer Memorial Tower was erected near the earliest focus of Pennsylvanian-German settlement. The tower stands in a grassed area enclosed by a locked fence. The property also contains a small pioneer cemetery. The area surrounding the tower is mixed agricultural and urban development with wooded areas on the west shore of the river. The tower is a landmark to both residents and tourists by virtue of its prominence and significance.
Sources:
- Marilyn E. Armstrong-Reynolds, Waterloo Pioneers Tower, 437 Tower Road, Kitchener, Ontario. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 88-078; Waterloo Pioneer Tower, Kitchener, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement 95-034.