Humboldt Water Tower

Humboldt's water tower was constructed from 1914 to 1915 under the direction of Toronto consulting engineers Chipman and Power. An inner steel tank 20 feet in diameter and 80 feet high is surrounded by a wooden exterior housing, topped by a cone-shaped cedar shingle roof and an exterior catwalk, bringing the structure to approximately 95 feet in total height. Iron struts at 12 foot intervals encircle the tank and support the exterior housing. A series of 12 foot ladders with connecting short platforms between the tank and exterior wall originally provided access to the catwalk, and a spiral staircase inside the tank now provides easier access to the top. The tank held 156,000 gallons of water and was anchored into seven tiers of concrete under the tower. It served the community until 1977, when the town switched to a new water treatment and storage facility. Saved and restored through the efforts of local volunteers, it became one of Humboldt's landmark buildings and symbolizes the community's long struggle to find an adequate and dependable water supply. The tower was designated a municipal heritage site in 2002. A concrete tunnel extends to a point directly under the tank, built to accommodate pipes and maintenance, and access to this tunnel is provided by a stairway from the annex.

Saskatchewan · Canada