Travel in Time with Dan: Fictional Interview with Stephen Salisbury III, Builder of Bancroft Tower (1835–1905)
Dan: Hello everyone! Today, I’m in Worcester, Massachusetts, standing before the magnificent Bancroft Tower, built in 1900. This structure looks like it belongs in medieval Europe, but it’s right here in America. I’m honored to “sit down” with Stephen Salisbury III, the industrialist who built this remarkable monument. Welcome, Mr. Salisbury.
Stephen Salisbury III: Thank you, Dan. It’s gratifying to see people still visiting this tower after all these years. It represents something I believed was worth preserving—memory itself.
Dan: Let’s start with the context. You built this during the Gilded Age, a time of extraordinary wealth.
Stephen Salisbury III: Indeed. The Gilded Age was a period when industrialists like myself, along with the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts, had accumulated what you might call “super crazy money.” We had resources beyond what most could imagine. Some used their wealth frivolously, but I believed wealth carried responsibility—the responsibility to create something meaningful, something lasting.
Dan: And you chose to build this tower for your father’s childhood friend, George Bancroft. That’s quite an unusual tribute.
Stephen Salisbury III: George Bancroft wasn’t just my father’s childhood friend—he was an extraordinary American who deserved to be remembered. When I looked at his accomplishments, I knew a simple plaque wouldn’t suffice. He wrote a ten-volume history of the United States, served as Secretary of the Navy, worked as an ambassador, and founded the Naval Academy. These weren’t small achievements, Dan. They shaped our nation.
Dan: Why build a tower? Why this specific structure?
Stephen Salisbury III: I wanted something that would endure, something that would command attention and spark curiosity. This is what we call a monument folly—a structure built purely for commemoration, not utility. You can’t really live in it; it’s too narrow. It’s not a defensive fortification, though it may appear so. It exists solely to honor George Bancroft’s memory and to make people ask, “Why is this here?” And when they ask, they learn about a remarkable man.
Dan: You built it here in Salisbury Park, on the seven hills of Worcester.
Stephen Salisbury III: Yes, location matters. The seven hills give this tower prominence and majesty. Just as Rome was built on seven hills, Worcester has its own geography of significance. Placing the tower here ensured it would be visible, memorable, and part of the city’s landscape for generations.
Dan: George Bancroft had already passed away when the tower was completed in 1900.
Stephen Salisbury III: He had. This was always intended as a memorial, not a gift he would enjoy in life. Memory requires monuments. Without them, even the greatest individuals fade from collective consciousness. I wanted to ensure that wouldn’t happen to George Bancroft.
Dan: The tower became quite popular over the years—weddings, picnics, climbing, even ghost stories.
Stephen Salisbury III: Yes, and that pleased me immensely. I didn’t want this to be a cold, untouchable monument. I hoped people would make it part of their lives—celebrate here, gather here, create their own memories in the shadow of one man’s legacy. The ghost stories? Well, every old tower needs a bit of mystery, doesn’t it?
Dan: Unfortunately, things got out of control in the 1980s, and now it’s only open a few days a year.
Stephen Salisbury III: That’s regrettable but understandable. Preservation requires protection. If opening it sparingly ensures it survives for future generations, then so be it. The tower’s purpose isn’t constant access—it’s permanent remembrance. As long as it stands, it serves its function.
Dan: After you passed away, you left the tower to the arts museum, and later it went to the parks department.
Stephen Salisbury III: Yes, I ensured it would have caretakers after I was gone. Legacy requires stewardship. You cannot simply build something and assume it will endure without care. I made arrangements so that others would continue what I started—preserving memory and honoring achievement.
Dan: This was actually one of three such towers you built, correct?
Stephen Salisbury III: Yes, and that this is the only one remaining proves my point about stewardship. Not all legacies survive without dedicated care. This tower stands because people chose to preserve it. The others faded because they lacked that commitment.
Dan: What lessons about leadership and legacy would you share with people today?
Stephen Salisbury III: Several things, Dan. First, wealth without purpose is meaningless. If you have resources, use them to create something that outlasts you. Second, remember those who came before. George Bancroft shaped this nation, and I used my resources to ensure he wouldn’t be forgotten. Third, legacy requires action. Simply achieving things isn’t enough—you must actively work to preserve memory, both your own and others’. Finally, by remembering the past, we shape the present and inspire the future. That’s the true purpose of monuments like this tower.
Dan: That’s a powerful message. Any final thoughts?
Stephen Salisbury III: Look around at what endures from previous generations. Monuments, institutions, stories—these are how we connect past to present to future. If you want your life to matter beyond your years, create something, build something, and preserve something. Make sure that what deserves to be remembered will be remembered. That is the highest form of legacy.
Dan: Thank you so much, Mr. Salisbury. The Bancroft Tower stands as a testament to your vision.
Stephen Salisbury III: May you always honor those who came before, Dan. That honor shapes who we become.
