One of Vankleek Hill’s landmark historic sites has the scoop for summer.
On Saturday August 1, children aged 15 and under can come to the Higginson Tower and receive a coupon for a free ice cream cone from The Broken Kettle Bakery and Barkery at 54 Main Street East in Vankleek Hill. Coupons are valued at $5 and they are limited so don’t miss it! Realtor Louise Sproule is the sponsor of Higginson Tower Ice Cream Day. The event is a fun way to learn about an important part of Vankleek Hill’s history and enjoy some of that good Kawartha Dairy ice cream the Broken Kettle serves.
Matthew Steele, who has been welcoming visitors to the Higginson Tower this summer, said an average of 10 to 15 people per day have been visiting the tower each day.
“A lot of people ask about the tower’s history,” Steele said.
Thomas Higginson built the tower in around 1830 as a windmill. However, there was inadequate wind. In 1839, it was converted into a private astronomical observatory. St. John’s Anglican Church beside the tower was constructed in 1856. The tower later fell into ruin but was restored between 2006 and 2015 through an extensive fundraising campaign and with grant funding. A new interpretive sign was installed outside the tower in time for the 2026 season.
Steele said many of the visitors are from Kingston, Toronto, and Montréal. Some are camping at Voyageur Provincial Park and discovering the surrounding area. He said one of the most common questions unrelated to the tower that people ask is where to eat nearby.
So far this season, international visitors to the Higginson Tower have been from the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, and France.
Steele has worked seasonally at the Higginson Tower since the Fall of 2024. He recently graduated from Grade 12 at Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute and will begin studying Geology at Queen’s University in Kingston in September. Steele said he is going to miss being at the tower.
“I like that I was a part of it so long,” he commented.
Steele said he has also enjoyed finding out where visitors to the Higginson Tower are from, and that the historic site is so close to his home.
The Higginson Tower is located beside St. John’s Anglican Church in Vankleek Hill. Access is from Highway 34 or Home Avenue. The tower is open to visitors from 10 am to 4 pm, Wednesday to Sunday. The Broken Kettle is open from 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
