Thomas Higginson - The Higginson Tower

The Higginson Tower

The Higginson Tower is located close to St. John the Apostle Anglican Church (the church on the hill along Highway 34 as you enter Vankleek Hill from the north end). The ruins were once near the home of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Higginson, who built it in 1832. William Higginson, Thomas' son, added the upper portion to create a conservatory and also built the red brick house nearby.

The Higginson Tower is symbolic of the evolution of 19th century teaching, learning and civic duty in Vankleek Hill and district. It also represents the many positive contributions made by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Higginson. The Higginson Tower was constructed by Thomas Higginson as a windmill in 1832 to serve in the grinding of wheat and corn so as to further the commercial development of Vankleek Hill and the immediate district. When this project failed due to lack of consistent wind power, Mr. Thomas Higginson, (commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Prescott Regiment on April 23, 1839) transformed the windmill into the first private observatory in Eastern Ontario.

In 1866 in answer to a government call to defend against the Fenian Raid, Lieutenant-Colonel Higginson’s Prescott Militia in Vankleek Hill were instructed on March 9, 1866 to proceed to Cornwall - in anticipation of a Fenian Raid. It is suggested that the Higginson Tower carried out a defensive role during the Fenian Raids as it later carried the term of “look-out” tower.

He represented Prescott in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1863 to 1867.