Whether you are a longtime resident of Airdrie or you’ve only been here for a short time, you have probably noticed the metal sphere that once dominated the northeast end of the city.
Maybe you drive by it on your way to work each morning, or maybe it greets you as you enter the A&W parking lot in search of a tasty root beer float, or maybe you’ve seen it so many times that you stopped noticing it a long time ago.
For me, it is the latter.
It’s not that the water tower isn’t worth noticing. It’s just that when you get too used to your surroundings, you fail to notice your environment in the same way you did when you first set eyes on it.
When I was young, I remember looking up at the tower and feeling like it was much taller than it really was. It is a fixture in my memories growing up in Airdrie. I remember it especially on hot summer evenings walking or driving down 1st Ave in search of a cool drink or a scoop of ice cream. Thinking of the tower and those carefree summer nights stirs up feelings of nostalgia for me.
In reality, the now-decommissioned water tower served a practical purpose when it was erected in 1959. The giant metal lollipop-shaped structure provided a reservoir for water in case of an emergency for what was then a growing village.
In large black lettering, the word ‘Airdrie’ is written across the shiny metal sphere as a reminder to all passing through the city that they have entered a community with a history that won’t be forgotten.
The tower has become known as a local landmark and for some, even a roadside attraction. Several visitors to the tower have left Google reviews indicating their feelings about the Airdrie landmark. One such review read, “Too bad it wasn’t full of orange juice.” Another read, “When I think of Airdrie, I think of the water tower and also that weird cowboy statue.”
Google reviewer Isaac Doucette wrote the “elegant structure simply makes Airdrie whole.” He went on to say the “stunning architecture is a world first in design,” and the tower is a “cultural hub for the stoppage of motor vehicles and eating of traditional Airdronian food – the Airdronian culture revolves around it.”
Another reviewer, Craig Eazy, said the water tower is “the greatest water tower of all water towers ever.” That's quite the claim.
Without a doubt, the tower has made a lasting impression on Airdronians and those passing by the city, which is why I wanted to write about it for this month’s A View to the Past.
According to a plaque located near the tower, it was constructed at a time when water and sewage systems were also being built for the then-village of Airdrie. The tower signifies the need for infrastructure to support an expanding population.
During hot summer months, the water pressure of the tower was very low and almost non-existent, which was caused by inadequate elevation at the structure’s location.
Just over a decade later, the population of Airdrie had grown by four times its previous size. The tower was decommissioned after a large reservoir was built in the south end of the growing village. By 1977, the village had become a town and the tower was made obsolete.
Since its construction in 1959, Airdrie's Water Tower stands tall in the northeast quadrant of the city as a reminder of Airdrie's humble beginnings. Photo by Carmen Cundy/Airdrie City ViewSince its retirement more than 40 years ago, community members have debated whether the empty tower should be torn down and the lot sold, or if the location should be used as advertising space. In 2003, Airdrie City council voted unanimously against a proposal to dismantle the tower. They chose instead to save the tower from demolition and gave it a new coat of paint later that year.
Today, Airdrie is home to more than 70,000 residents and is considered one of the fastest growing communities in Canada. Since Airdrie first became a city in 1985, modern developments and innovative infrastructure have replaced or enveloped some of the older buildings and relics around town.
While trees and buildings have since been put up around the tower, the metal sphere can still be seen hovering over the northeast end of the city. It is a constant reminder of the humble beginnings of our now-thriving urban community.
In the process of uncovering the history of one of Airdrie’s oldest landmarks, I have come to realize the importance of this structure to our community. The retired water tower helps tell the story of a growing town that struggled to provide infrastructure to sustain their community. In response, they brought new infrastructure to the community that was both innovative and practical for its time.
In the hustle and bustle of my daily life, I have oftentimes overlooked the importance of the water tower to our community. On evening drives down 1st Avenue, the tower has often blended in with the foliage and neighbouring infrastructure.
But as Google reviewer Isaac Doucette said, the tower simply “makes Airdrie whole.” I wholeheartedly agree. I couldn’t imagine an Airdrie without its water tower.
Carmen Cundy, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @carmenrcundy
