Franklin D. Roosevelt is president, World War II has begun, Frank Sinatra is a rising star, Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz are playing in local theaters, and the last rivet is added to the brand new West Union water tower, the year is 1939.
The old metal sentinel has stood at the bend of Main Street for 76 years, but next Wednesday it is scheduled to be disassembled and removed from the site.
Work will begin on Oct. 14 at 6 a.m. Crews and heavy equipment will begin the process of breaking the tower down.
Officials say it should take approximately 6-8 hours to complete the job.
“We hope that the project will be finished by 2 p.m.,” said Village Administrator Jerry Kirker.
According to Kirker, traffic in heading north and south on SR 41 through West Union will be diverted while the tower is being brought down.
Main Street will be blocked off from Cross Street to West Street, across from the First State Bank. Traffic will be detoured onto Walnut and Cross Streets.
Signs will be placed to direct traffic.
“Residential areas on the detour route should expect a heavier than usual traffic flow,” said Kirker.
Downtown traffic around courthouse square will not be effected by the detour.
If the process isn’t completed by the time school is let out, traffic will continue to be detoured away from the site.
The tower is being disassembled and moved by the Caldwell Tank company of Louisville, Ky and Iseler Demolition Inc.
Caldwell is the company that erected the new tower.
Funds for the tower removal were included in the money allocated to build the new tower which will begin supplying the town’s water next week.
