Ownership of Hull’s iconic water tower in hands of voters

Hull's voters will decide in October whether the best way to restore Fort Revere Park's iconic water tower at the top of Telegraph Hill is to give the town-owned property to the state.

The 104-year-old tower — and its observation deck with spectacular views of Boston Harbor — has been closed to the public since the summer of 2012 because of safety concerns.

Town officials have said Hull doesn't have the money to repair the structure. The state Department of Conservation and Recreation, which owns much of the surrounding area, has said it can't spend money on the tower because it is town property.

The 8-acre historic site also holds the remnants of two seacoast fortifications dating back to Colonial times, a closed military history museum, some picnic tables, and a rolling lawn. The state owns about two-thirds of the property.

A petition signed by more than 450 Hull residents called for a Special Town Meeting to vote on transferring ownership of the water tower and all town-owned parcels within Fort Revere Park to the state, and to ask local legislators to work to include Fort Revere Park in the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Nantasket Beach Reservation. The petition said the action was to "facilitate restoration" of the park.

Selectmen scheduled the Special Town Meeting for Oct. 15.

Other warrant articles can be submitted for the meeting until 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, according to the town clerk's office.