Fall splendor at Mount Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – An annual rite of passage for Orleans County residents should include a visit to Mount Albion Cemetery, especially the Civil War Memorial tower, every fall.

I went to see the tower on Nov. 7. It was a crisp autumn day. I hadn’t been up the 68-foot-high tower in a  couple years.

I was happy to see the spiral staircase is freshly painted. Last time I climbed all of the steps, there was lots of graffiti. This was taken from the top of the tower, which was built in 1876, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country.

I’m a little uncomfortable up high, but here is a view looking down from the tower. There are nice sandstone steps leading to the tower.

The tower provides views of scenic Albion, including the Orleans County Courthouse.

These iron gates lead into the tower, which is a memorial to about 500 Orleans County residents who died in the Civil War. Their names are etched in marble slabs inside the tower.

The cemetery on Route 31 is included on the National Register of Historic Places. There are many historic features of Mount Albion, including this hitching post that was used to tie up horses.

The cemetery, with its winding paths, is a popular spot for joggers and walkers.