The Washburn Park 'Water' Tower

i was 'run over' by this tower

En route to the Washburn Tower a white van with a smallish trailer cut across me and son on the bicycle in the sidewalk with a clear walk sign. The operator, a man, was trying to access the Washburn Library we were going also going to—as a greeting I informed him the library was closed today (we were just returning books by one of my favorites, Ursula K. Leguin) and I’d already noticed him try and fail to open the locked door, so it was a bit of a friendly jab to state the obvious, and then I asked him a favor, to please signal his turn next time. Apparently affronted, he said, It’s illegal to be in the crosswalk on a green, and to my surprise (and perhaps my son's, clearly in his view, sitting in the bucket seat, he added, You’re going to get run over.

The Minnesota Statute §169.222 is clear about how the operator of the bicycle in a crosswalk gives same rights as pedestrian, so even though I think he was wrong on that, the “You’re going to get run over,” seemed over the line. Someone who had witnessed the incident at least pulled their window down and said, “That wasn’t very nice,” to which I called across Lyndale Av, “That’s alright,” before continuing on and noticing the van stopped at the library just down the block, the universe offering me an opportunity to speak with the man.

Anyway, the strange man in all white, except for the blue and yellow vertical stripe from neck to base of shirt, made his escape in the van. I don’t think he did anything illegal himself, except he could have signaled so that I knew he would be turning, or simply, if he saw us, waited. I’m not someone who launches out when I have right of way because I understand, having lived in places like Jakarta, Indonesia, that there are benefits to bending the complicated traffic rules to help everyone get where they are going. His reaction to my question, though, with the exclamation point—You’re going to get run over—revealed, perhaps(!), a troubled mind.

Our next encounter was only a few minutes later with two men from a concrete company who I interrupted to ask about sealing my sidewalk. They gave concise information with an explanation and the cost I should expect if hiring someone, while noting I could do it myself, and how. I thanked them for their time.

And now, the search began for the historic Washburn Park Water Tower.

Guardians and Eagles, the former are 8 tons a piece, the birds are 5 tons each

To be fair, there could probably be a short novella written about what we discovered… I was ‘run over’ by this tower!

But to start, I will share that I have seen this whatever-it-is a number of times, however only from a distance, but unmistakable. The reason? The trees and shape of the land in Tangletown obscures the view from closer in.

Certainly, though, it can be seen from a distance, as can other ‘water towers’ like the Prospect Park Water Tower, also known locally as the Witch’s Tower (or Witch’s Hat), which we actually saw from 1st Ave and 50th looking east across I35, all the way across the Mississippi River. (Regrettably, I did not have my phone/camera powered on yet, to avoid detection, else I would have snapped this photo, too.)

Glenn Galen, 2019, art rendered from photo taken perhaps by drone, from the south, looking north

At first, approaching from the west (and steepest section), charging up the hill like a wolf to prey, the building is already impressive.

Then, walking around the curve to the south one finds a barred entrance…

It seems that someone has access, since the sign says the a number must be called or the police will be dispatched. Apparently this is operating as a water tower during the summer months, though I’m yet to conclude that even if that is true that this was the sole original use for the tower.

Here’s the Minnesota Historical Society information posted on a sign on the east walk-up to the structure, once coming full around to the north side:

The Orphanage described is the Washburn Memorial Orphan Asylum

An elaborate history seemingly well explained, but a closer look unveils myriad questions…

But just as I started to think about them, one of the statues took flight and landed in a tree, suggesting I not think too much:

Leaving the grounds of the tower, thoughts went to the original potential use for such a structure. Notice the tall spire protruding from this supposedly 1920s photo.

Today’s tower does also, I imagine, still have a way to scale and view from the top. The view from the tower must be quite panoramic.

Now the hawk is back on his perch.

There are more questions to think about. Like the orphanage, also known as the Washburn Memorial Orphan Asylum, (where Justice Page school stands today) which the original ‘water’ tower was supposedly built to provide water to.

This building style is rare (and common) and can be found throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul. (Sometimes referred to as Gothic or Richardsonian Romanesque and various other names… still learning them.)

Am planning to do a post about the orphanage. This era, 1880s/1890s was when Minneapolis and St. Paul’s population’s bloomed, at least according to the US census, and it is not the first mention I’ve received looking at various documents about orphans.

A 117,851-person increase to 164,738 between 1880 to 1890

Will also take a look at the three other quite significant, in my view, ‘water’ towers between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Pillsbury A-Mill still in the works, too.

Previously, wrote about the Lafayette Club on Lake Minnetonka.