Sligo Hill, Marlborough, MA

This towering structure has been a staple of the city's skyline for over a century, but its story begins long before its construction in 1895. The area where the tower now stands was initially settled by John Kerr in 1675, and early maps refer to it as Vouchers Hill. Later, the hill became a farm owned by Caleb Brigham. At 1,500 feet, Sligo Hill is one of the highest points between Worcester and Boston, alongside Scott Hill in Sudbury and Honey Hill in Hopkinton. The name "Sligo Hill" likely comes from County Sligo in Ireland, reflecting the heritage of many of Marlborough’s early immigrants, although one local legend suggests it was named after a Revolutionary War figure known as "Old Slago" who hid there during the war. By 1883, as Marlborough's population grew, a reservoir was constructed atop the hill to supply water pressure to the city’s fire hydrants. However, by the mid-1890s, with over 14,000 residents and numerous factories, the reservoir could no longer meet the city's needs. Plans were made for a 140-foot water tower with a capacity of 120,000 gallons. The Chicago Bridge and Iron Company built the tower for just over $95,000. The water tower quickly became iconic. For Marlborough's 250th birthday celebration, it was decorated with lights, an extraordinary sight at a time when electricity was not common. Despite city officials’ hopes, the tower could not prevent all fires. Notably, in 1902, brutally cold temperatures led to frozen hoses that hindered efforts to save Marlborough’s original city hall from a fire. In 1913, Charlotte Howe donated nine acres of land adjacent to the water tower to create the Stevens-Howe Playground, named after her husband Oscar Stevens and her father Simon Herbert Howe, Marlborough's first mayor. During World War II, the tower served as a watchtower for civil defense, where brave souls climbed over 100 feet to keep watch for enemy aircraft. By 1962, the city's needs had outgrown the old standpipe, and a second tank with a capacity of over two million gallons was built. The original standpipe, now used primarily as a cell tower, stands as a relic of the past. Discussions about deconstructing the old structure surface occasionally, but it remains a beloved symbol of Marlborough, integral to the city’s identity and a distinctive landmark. Watch this great video shot by our own Garrett Hayes and get a bird's-eye view of this historic landmark.