6.1. ERMUSR 04-10-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PrintFriendly.com: Print web pages, create PDFs Page 3 of 3 The Elk River water tower is historically significant because it provided a ready reserve of water for protection against fire, Gardner said. "It is also significant for its engineering, representing a specific type of water tower -the hemispherical bottom -which replaced the earlier flat-bottomed type," Gardner said. In his letter of support, Fox of the Kelley Farm said the water tower is a significant link to Elk River's past. When the water tower was built in 1920, many buildings were constructed of wood. Lanterns with open flames were commonly used for lighting. The combination often had catastrophic results, and community development was hampered by the fires that often spread throughout the community, Fox wrote. Construction of the Elk River water tower, and others like it, helped stabilize communities and enable economic progress. Water towers greatly enhanced fire departments' abilities to quickly put out fires and keep them from spreading. "When built, it was a great technological leap forward for the community, and today it stands as a landmark in the city of Elk River," Fox said in his letter. Gardner said the tower was originally painted silver with a red lid and Elk River in black letters on the side. It was painted with the current logo and color scheme in 1984. A member of the State Review Board wondered if the original color scheme will be re-established. Rebecca Haug, staff liaison to the Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission, said that has been discussed but it will depend on funding. Another State Review Board member said of the water tower: "I think it's particularly important in a place like Elk River that has been a small town, and still is in a lot of ways, but is also growing rapidly. It kind of anchors the community." The National Register of Historic Places can include districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects. These places must meet criteria in order to be listed in the National Register. Since its inception in 1966, more than 80,000 properties have been listed in the National Register. Tags: EII< River, featured, National Register of Historic Places, water tower http://www.printfriendly.com/print?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferstamews.com%2F2012%2F03... 4/4/2012