The Odebolt Chronicle, VOLUME 64, NUMBER 6, FEBRUARY 7, 1952
Landmark Razed--Old Water Tower Is Torn Down in Railroad Yards
An Odebolt landmark was razed Friday, when workmen dismantled the 50-year-old water tower at the Chicago and North Western railroad yards west of the depot.
The 10,000 gallon tank, standing nearly 40 feet high, had been out of use since last September. It was sold for salvage to Iversen Transfer Co., of Odebolt, and was taken down by the Martin Mauer Construction Co. of Sac City. Iversen plans to use some of the timbers from the old structure in his house moving business.
Firemen were called out twice Friday morning, when flames from acetylene torches ignited tar on the bottom of the tank. Work on dismantling the tower was started Friday morning, and the structure was brought down with a crash shortly after noon. Splintered and useless lumber was burned on the spot.
The tank was originally used to provide water for trains stopping at Odebolt, for the stockyards and for the water system in the toilet and wash rooms at the depot.
However, of recent years it had leaked badly, and in winter huge icicles hung from its base. For several years the rest rooms at the depot have had to be locked up in cold weather, because the water supply from the tower froze. Plans are now underway to install new plumbing shortly.
Ice on railroad water tower, 1949 - submitted by Marshall Fox
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