Mt. Tom Tea Pavilion: Now

Here's what remains of the Tea Pavilion which was located on the east side of Mt. Tom below the Summit House (see previous post for pictures of the pavilion in the 1900s)

This concrete slab is all that remains of the pavilion, this view is to the north.

And a view to the south.

Bill was here!!!

Another view facing south, at this angle you can get an idea of how thick the concrete floor was.

Mt.Tom Tea Pavilion: Then...

The Tea Pavilion was located on the East side of Mt. Tom, just below the Summit House.

The pavilion offered spectacular views to the east and southeast.

The Tea Pavilion was used mostly as a social gathering spot by the women visitors to the summit.

A group of ladies socializing at the Mt. Tom Tea Pavilion. The views from the mountain were spectacular in the early 1900s due to the deforestation of the summit by the previous owner, a Mr. Fairfield who owned a lumber company in Westfield. He sold the mountain top and surrounding area to William Stiles Loomis in the late 1890s.

The north end of the pavilion with the Whiting Street Reservoir and Connecticut River in the background.

Another view from the summit's south slope.

Mt.Tom Summit At Sunset

I recently made my way up to the Mt.Tom Summit to take some photos of the beautiful sunset on St. Patrick's Day, i guess it's becoming an annual event for me to be on the mountain on this day, last year i did a hike with Glenn Sullivan on St. Patrick's Day which covered the Bray Loop, Kay Bee, D.O.C. and MM trails.

I started out by taking the path across from Mt. Joe's Coffee kiosk on Rt 141 which leads to the "Electric Pole" trail, i took this trail up to where the trail intersects with the MM trail and followed the MM to the old Summit House walkway.

The walkway is actually part of the MM trail, though i believe the owners of the communication complex atop the summit are trying to re-route the trail to an area below the current walk way, this is because the land close to the path is being developed for more communication buildings and equipment. Another reason for re-routing is because the walkway which was built in the late 1890s is becoming very dangerous to cross in certain areas.

The old stairway that takes you to the long gone Mt. Tom Summit House. the original foundation which was built in 1897 is still standing and is still part of the structure that makes up the communication building complex.

You can still walk in the footsteps of President McKinley and William Stiles Loomis.

Looking southeast approaching the stairway, if you look close you can see Hartford, Connecticut on the horizon.

Further on the walkway looking southwest.

To the northwest.

Various stages of the setting sun. It doesn't get any better or beautiful than this.

The Moving Of The Mountain Park Pavilion

The Mt. Park Pavilion has been moved from it's location in the north end of the park to an area on the old Midway. The pavilion was originally erected in the early seventies following a gas explosion that leveled the Stardust Ballroom and Tap Room during Holyoke High School's prom in June of 1971. The Ballroom and Tap Room were never rebuilt. The pavilion is all that's left of the original Mountain Park which closed in the fall of 1987. The reason for the pavilion's move is to make way for the stage area of the Mountain Park Amphitheater which will be opening for it's first full season this summer.

The pavilion was moved from this location in the north end of the park to make way for the stage area of the Mountain Park Amphitheater.

Workers assemble the Mountain Park Pavilion at it's new location on the former Midway.

This photo was taken in the winter of 2007 from the rail bed of the former Mt. Park Zephyr which ran around the perimeter of the old miniature golf course.

The pavilion as seen in the summer of 2008.