Nov. 16--The iconic water tower that once sat above the Swedish American Museum in Andersonville will be replaced, not fixed, museum officials announced Saturday.
The water tower, which was above the museum's building for nearly nine decades and was painted to resemble the Swedish flag, will likely be chopped up and its wood turned into memorabilia, said Museum Director Karin Moen Abercrombie.
Abercrombie said the museum at 5211 N. Clark St. also wants to memorialize the water tower in a display.
Before the tower was damaged by cold weather in March, it had been a neighborhood landmark since 1927. It held 20,000 gallons of water that supplied the museum building's sprinkler system.
Originally, the water tower was not painted in any particular fashion. Once officials gave it Sweden's colors, it became an area attraction.
"It was used as (an) advertisement for many years, and then it was changed into (the) Swedish flag," Abercrombie said. "I think that's when it really became a landmark for Andersonville."
Although plans aren't final for what the replacement will look like, Abercrombie said it would not be made of wood. But it will be painted blue and yellow, the Swedish colors.
Museum officials want to raise $150,000 to replace the tower. So far, they've raised $70,000. They're considering selling memorabilia made from remnants of the tower to help fund the replacement, Abercrombie said.
Many people in the neighborhood were disappointed that the tower was taken down. It has been sitting in the museum's nearby parking lot at the corner of Foster and Ashland avenues.
John Green, a bartender at Simon's Tavern across the street, said he'd like to see the orginal water tower restored.
"It's an icon. It's almost like Batman without the bat light," Green said. "It's a shame that it's gone."
Residents in the neighborhood have been supportive of the museum's efforts. Several businesses in the 5200 block of North Clark Street are taking donations from customers interested replacing the tower, said Deidra Castillo, who works at Presence.
Jose Lagomasini, a store manager at the Urban Orchard grocery, called it a "monument."
"It's a huge part of this community," Lagomasini said. "It's more than just a water tower."
