The haunting mystery surrounding the impressive Newport Tower in Touro Park sparked my imagination. Eight cylindrical columns support an almost circular stone monument that measures approximately 22 feet around and 28 feet high, with seven windows: four halfway up and three smaller at the top. When I worked in Newport and heard the structure’s origin was uncertain, I dug in to do some research. One possibility intrigued me—the Knights Templar.
The tower’s resemblance to many of the churches...