[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 156 (Tuesday, September 26, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        COMMEMORATING THE SKY TOP TOWER AT MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PATRICK RYAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2023

  Mr. RYAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sky Top tower on 
the Mohonk Preserve in Ulster County, New York. For over a century, Sky 
Top has been a testament to our region's natural beauty and a symbol of 
home for many in the New Paltz area.
  In 1870, the twins Albert and Alfred Smiley constructed the original 
Sky Top tower on the grounds of the Mohonk Mountain House resort. 
Although severe weather and fires destroyed the original tower, it was 
rebuilt three times. The fourth and current iteration of Sky Top, built 
in 1923 as a memorial to Albert Smiley, celebrates its 100th birthday 
this year.
  Located on a high point of land overlooking Lake Mohonk, Sky Top 
provides a view of nearby states New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, 
Massachusetts, and Vermont. Over the years, the tower has been a beacon 
for hikers and nature lovers from New York and all over the country. 
Today, Sky Top stands as a symbol of the collaboration and 
determination of our community.
  Sky Top owes its continued existence to the commitment and hard work 
of countless individuals who have contributed to the project over the 
decades.
  Among them are the Smiley brothers, stonemasons John and Frank 
Lawrence, architect Francis Allen, and Charles Miller, who led the 
committee to construct the current tower. Their efforts embody our 
shared history and our commitment to preserving our community's 
abundant natural wonders.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join me in honoring this enduring landmark and the hard work of the 
community that sustains it.

                          ____________________