In a fascinating and mysterious event that occurred 27 years ago at Cornell University, an astonishing feat took place where a 60-pound pumpkin was found impaled on the top of a spire at the university’s revered McGraw Tower. Situated an astounding 170 feet in the air, this bizarre occurrence left onlookers and university officials baffled, as no one could ascertain the identity of the individual responsible, their motivation, or how they managed to execute the stunt without detection.
The McGraw Tower, originally known as the Library Tower when it was constructed in 1891, stands as a remarkable masonry clock tower on Cornell University’s campus located in Ithaca, New York. It has served as an iconic landmark for the university, yet perhaps none of its stories are as puzzling and notorious as the pumpkin prank of 1997.
On the memorable date of October 8, 1997, observant individuals passing by the tower were astonished to spot a sizable pumpkin perched precariously atop the tower’s spire. Given the significant peril involved in attempting to retrieve the pumpkin, university administrators made the unusual decision to allow the fruit to remain in its lofty position until it naturally decayed and fell off.
However, contrary to expectations, the pumpkin underwent a unique transformation as it rapidly desiccated in the brisk, wintry air of Ithaca. Rather than decomposing and dislodging from its elevated perch, the pumpkin defied all odds and remained firmly in place on the tower. It wasn’t until March 13, 1998, that the pumpkin, now dry and withered, was finally removed from its unusual placement with the aid of a crane.
As the unusual saga of the pumpkin impalement at Cornell University’s McGraw Tower persists in campus folklore, the identity of the prankster and the exact methodology employed in achieving this extraordinary feat continue to elude capture and explanation. This peculiar incident stands as a testament to the unpredictability and enigmatic nature of human behavior, leaving a lasting legacy of intrigue and curiosity in its wake.
