Still the tallest architectural structure in Knox County, the smokestack is a centerpiece among the factory ruins that pay tribute to the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company’s workers and their families. The 280-foot smokestack once expelled flue gases from the glassmaking facility. It was constructed by way of the slip form method, a continuous pouring of concrete that resulted in a smooth, uninterrupted surface. Lloyd Hull, a 31-year employee of PPG who worked mainly in the Carpenter Shop, recounted stories of pranks and bets between workers in the shop. One incident, in particular, involved the smokestack and a ten dollar bet between two co-workers to climb it. According to Hull, the man managed to successfully climb up the smokestack without any protective gear, but whether he ever received the $10 he was promised has been lost to history.

Today, visitors can catch a glimpse of a view similar to the one Hull’s co-worker may have seen by climbing 224 steps to a 140-foot high observation deck. Rastin Observation Tower, which opened on July 4, 2015, consists of a steel spiral staircase that wraps around PPG’s industrial smokestack. The tower was designed by Ted Schnormeier, the Ariel-Foundation Park director, and is named in honor of Tom Rastin, Executive Vice President of Ariel Corporation. Its sweeping views provide a link between the past and present of Mount Vernon and its community.

Sources

Keirns, Aaron J. Ariel-Foundation Park. Mt. Vernon, OH: Foundation Park Conservancy, 2015.

 

 

Video of Rastin Observation Tower being climbed on opening day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Burb53cwRZA

 


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Credits

The information for this site was written by Kenyon College students Rose Bishop, Jessica Ferrer, Charlotte Lee, and Stephanie Holstein, under the supervision of Dr. Austin Porter. Photos as credited.