Corixid SALUTES Ole Ed with this GeoCache.
Sure, You’ve driven buy here, and if you’re as old as Corixid, you may have climbed to the top. But, do you know…”the rest of the story ?”
In 1924 The Michigan Observation Company was looking for locations offering high elevations in order to erect high enclosed platforms , and thereby..... boost tourism.
A successful tower had been placed atop Bundy Hill, just west of here in Hillsdale County.
Officials looked for and found such a knoll here in the heart of the Irish Hills. A farmer who owned half of this sizable knoll, Edward Kelly, turned down the company’s offer to purchase his portion of the land, but the adjoining land owner, Thomas Brighton, quickly sold his portion of the knoll, and the construction of The Irish Hills Observatory commenced.
At the gala celebration in October of 1924, hundreds of people ascended the hill and the new tower to gaze upon the rolling landscape. On one Sunday in July 1926, facilitated by regular bus service between Detroit and Chicago, some 2,320 patrons reportedly visited the "Original" Irish Hills Observatory complex.
Edward Kelly seemed spited by the exploitation of the MOCs venture, and he protested by erecting his own tower. By the end of November, 1924, Ed’s observation platform was finished. It was just a few feet away from the MOCs structure, but…it was several feet higher!
The Michigan Observation Company responded by adding a second observation enclosure to the top of its own facilities, now designated as "The Original Irish Hills Tower”. Ed Kelly proceeded to add a raised platform to his “Gray” tower (named as such because of its gray-painted exterior), an act which brought the two edifices to an even height. The MOC informed Kelly that if he attempted to compete with more height given to his tower, they would tear down their own and construct a metal observatory so large that Kelly’s efforts would be nullified.
Ah....but it was fun while it lasted.
The two towers operated seperately until 1950. Both towers are standing still, but closed to the public.
As you log the cache here, give an ‘Atta Boy’ to Edward…just for messin’ with those people.