Two sorts of connectable dots of current interest are old smokestacks and water towers. Both provide useful landmarks often easily identifiable from a long distance on the congested urban landscape. Both are important elements of the megalopolis industrial and infrastructure heritage, a recurring hike theme. Both can be historic, but often aren't. Smokestacks are often abandoned - water towers less so - we still need to drink water in our post-industrial age even if we get away with manufacturing many fewer things. Ranging in style from elaborate to utilitarian, there are few examples which would be described as "cute".
But I did stumble across this cute water tower in the Short Hills section of Millburn Township. Not just my opinion but several of the NY Ramblers with me on a recent hike agreed.
Short Hills started life around 1880 as a faux-rural planned community developed by self-acting roller shade tycoon Stewart Hartshorn. To quote Mr. Hartshorn (from Wikipedia): "a harmonious community for people who appreciate nature ... and where natural beauty would not be destroyed by real estate developments, and where people of congenial tastes could dwell together". Is this not the perfect water tower for such a community?
It is mostly the Mediterranean style tile roof and the little observatory looking thing at the top which gives rise to its cuteness. In fact some websites suggest it is a lighthouse or observation tower. Thanks to Rambler Chris Z. who sent me a reference from Arcadia's "Images of America" series which identifies it as a water tower and ascribes it to the East Orange water company (click here). I'm going along with Arcadia and calling it a water tower which is what I thought when I first saw it.
The Short Hills water tower looks abandoned but I can't be certain. I found nothing about it on the East Orange Water Commission website. Nearby is a large water tank probably part of the current water distribution system.
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Short Hills started life around 1880 as a faux-rural planned community developed by self-acting roller shade tycoon Stewart Hartshorn. To quote Mr. Hartshorn (from Wikipedia): "a harmonious community for people who appreciate nature ... and where natural beauty would not be destroyed by real estate developments, and where people of congenial tastes could dwell together". Is this not the perfect water tower for such a community?
It is mostly the Mediterranean style tile roof and the little observatory looking thing at the top which gives rise to its cuteness. In fact some websites suggest it is a lighthouse or observation tower. Thanks to Rambler Chris Z. who sent me a reference from Arcadia's "Images of America" series which identifies it as a water tower and ascribes it to the East Orange water company (click here). I'm going along with Arcadia and calling it a water tower which is what I thought when I first saw it.
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| Water tank in Millburn Township's Fox Hill Preserve not far from the Mediterranean fantasy tower which is the subject of this post. This one looks to be in use - well maintained with security fencing, warnings, etc. |
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Since I started this discussion with water towers and smokestacks, I end with a pair of the latter - at the old Schering factory in Union Township. The decorated brick one on the left of the photo is the sort especially prized in peripatetic perambulations. I'd call it "elaborate" (for a smokestack anyway), but not "cute", although I would not want to abide by strict definitions of either term.
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