Mount Greylock War Memorial Nationally Designated

The Mount Greylock War Memorial has been designated as a National World War I Monument.

iBerkshires.com reports Becky Barnes, trails coordinator for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation told the Mount Greylock Advisory Council on Thursday that she applied for designation through the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library.

Barnes said there are grant funds affiliated with the designation and she hopes to use them to fix the weather station and webcam on the summit.

The tower is a state project built in the 1930s but had been under discussion since the end of the war. Early proposals had called for a memorial in the Boston area but the Mount Greylock, the state's highest point, won out thanks in part to then-state Sen. Theodore Plunkett of Adams.

Nearly 200,000 Massachusetts residents served in the war and 5,775 were direct casualties. Nov. 11, 1918, will mark the 100th anniversary of the war's end.

Park Supervisor Travis Clairmont said he hopes to be able to open the park May 17 – weather permitting.

Even if the state reservation opens on May 17, the opening of Bascom Lodge at the summit is anticipated to be delayed. Because of the heavy snow, preparation work for the season has yet to be done.