LE ROY PENNYSAVER - JUNE 21, 2009 Towers Seen and Unseen by Lynne Belluscio I just returned from a trip to William Watts of Bristol. Hot shot tow- Winston-Salem, North Carolina, molten mixed with arsenic ers in New where I attended the annual was poured from a tall tower York City, meeting of the Association of through a sieve into cold . but the new Living History, Farm and Agri- The lead formed little round “wind tower” cultural Museums. It was a ten balls. The size of the sieve and method soon hour drive through Pennsylva- the length of the drop determined made them nia, West , Virginia and the size of the shot. Most of the obsolete. finally into North Carolina. gun shot in the By 1873, On the way down, the rain was was imported from , only the Le- torrential and I was in a hurry but in 1808 President Thomas Roy tower to make a 5 pm meeting, so I Jefferson imposed an embargo was still didn’t stop in Virginia to see the on foreign goods and Americans standing. So Jackson Ferry Shot Tower, but began building shot towers. far, I haven’t on the way back last Wednesday, The Jackson Tower is one of been able to I took a side trip off the interstate the oldest in the United States, locate the site (much to the chagrin of the and although some people be- of the LeRoy voice in my Garmin – she kept lieve that it was in operation shot tower, “recalculating”; I’ve decided to before 1800, it is likely that it but hopefully name her “She-Who-Must-Be- was a few years later before on my next Obeyed”). it was producing lead shot. It visit to New The shot tower is one of only is unusual because the tower York City, I’ll a few remaining in the United is built of limestone instead have a chance States. It is on the National of brick. The 234 foot brick to look at Register of Historic Places. The Phoenix tower in was some city reason why I wanted to see the built in 1828 and was the tallest maps at the tower is because I am writing structure in the United States library. There an article for the Historical So- until the Washington Monument is a possibility that the tower was near 262 Water Street where the T.O. LeRoy street, except that the business Company was located. That sign has reference to shot. building is still standing and The courteous proprietor is in a historic district near the the way back through a long East River. shop, down a flight of iron steps One of City’s most to the basement, in the middle of famous steak houses, MarkJo- the building. There is the tank seph, is located in the old LeRoy of water into which the shot falls building. It is not far from the from a height. It is surrounded Brooklyn Bridge and I found by brick and iron pillars, which an 1896 article in the New York support the tower. There isn’t Times that poses an interesting any tower there. Like a church puzzle. “Look at the shot tower steeple, it is on top.” “We seem ciety Newsletter about Thomas was built. It too is listed on the from the bridge, then go and try to be the prize conundrum of Otis LeRoy, who was born in National Register. to find it.” The article goes on the city,” said the proprietor. LeRoy House in 1823. He was In 1848, the T.O LeRoy Com- to say that the tower (presum- "We have worn a path showing the oldest child of Jacob LeRoy pany in New York City regis- ably the LeRoy tower, because it visitors where the tower is not.” and when he was twenty-wo he tered a patent for a “wind tower” was the only tower still standing So I am still wondering, is the established a company in New method of manufacturing lead in 1873) can be seen from the LeRoy tower still in New York York City to manufacture lead gun shot. The new process was bridge, but once you try to find City? Stay tuned. pipe and in 1848 his company actually developed by David an entrance to a tower on street registered a patent for a new Smith, an employee of Thomas level, it can’t be found, because process to manufacture lead shot LeRoy. A blast of cold air from a regular building is in front of for guns. the bottom of the tower reduced the tower. “The entrance to the The manufacture of lead shot the necessity for tall towers. As tower is exactly like any of the was developed in England by late as 1868, there were three places of business which line the