Engineers Continuing To Assess Damage To Historic Park Tower

BOONSBORO, Md. (AP) -- Engineers with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are continuing to assess the damage to a 188-year-old stone monument in Washington County, after it was struck by lightning in June.

The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown reports that the three-story, 30-foot Washington Monument, located at Washington Monument State Park near Boonsboro, has remained closed to visitors since a bolt of lightning hit the top of the stone structure. The June 18 strike caused three people inside to be blown out of the doorway.

Since then, state engineers have been assessing the damage to the observation tower, which includes cracked mortar and dislodged stones.
Park Manager Mary Ironside says she hopes to have the historically accurate repairs completed and the observation tower reopened before the winter.

The original tower was dedicated in 1827.