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 Gilbert, Chandler water towers: icons of aqua history
Story by Stephanie Starks
Photos by Gordon Murray
The current drought is a disturbing reminder of how important water is
to this fragile desert existence. Early citizens of the southeast
Valley area relied on canals, irrigation and water towers to sustain
life in their arid climate. As the farm land transforms into urban
sprawl, two historic water towers still stand tall as icons of our
past: the Bogle Water Tower of Chandler and the Gilbert Water Tower.
Popularized in America during the
Industrial Revolution, water towers were built to store water and
deliver consistent pressure. Several tons of water are held in the
elevated steel tanks roughly 120 feet above the ground. The water is
pumped from a reservoir, lake or well into the elevated tank by
reverse gravity or an alternate energy source. Because of its height,
the tower is able to maintain constant water pressure, ensuring that
no shallow, polluted groundwater enters the water supply. Each foot of
height provides roughly 0.43 PSI of pressure. The water towers release
extra water into the municipal pipes at peak usage times. Cities today
use pumps to maintain their water supply and pressure, leaving
historic water towers to stand as architectural landmarks.
The Bogle water tower stands
tall in Snedigar Park. Photo courtesy of the City of Chandler.
The Bogle Water Tower in Chandler dates
back to the turn of the century. Jean Reynolds, public historian for
the City of Chandler, explains that the Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Company developed the area just south of Basha Road around 1917 in
what is now known as the Ocotillo area of Southern Chandler. They
erected the water tower to supply the town's drinking water. Reynolds
says that the red Bogle Tower serves as a landmark and brings back
childhood memories to those who grew up in the area.
Not all memories are fond ones. In a
documentary by the City of Chandler called “Roots of Ocotillo,” Chuck
Nickell recalls a childhood tragedy. He grew up near the water tower
and recounts how local boys did what boys do: climb. One fateful night
around 1940, Nickell’s friend, Edward Scott, climbed up and his hand
touched a nearby electrical wire, knocking him to the ground. His head
hit the cement footing, killing him instantly.
The Bashas’ water tower on the
corporate headquarters in Southern Chandler is yet another reminder
of
the past. Photo by Gordon Murray
As to how the tower got its name, Reynolds says that after the Great
Depression, the Goodyear Company moved further west to what is now
known as Goodyear. Their Chandler property became part of the Bogle
family’s ranch, which is why the water tower now bears their name.
Today, the tower can be found in Snedigar Park, 4500 S. Basha Road.
In downtown Gilbert, a similar water tower, located across from the
Hale Theatre on West Page Avenue, links residents to their
agricultural origins. Greg Svelund of the City of Gilbert says he is
unsure of the exact date of construction but knows it became
functional around 1920. He notes that as the downtown sprang up around
the railroad, the tower became a necessary water source for fire
fighting. Without it, this "alfalfa hay shipping capital of the world"
may never have survived. Although the tower has not been functional
for two decades, Svelund says that the city council's plans are for
the historic structure to remain. He adds that a recent make over is
the first step in the creation of a Water Tower Park that will be
centered around the tower and the historic adobe jail that sits just
below it. The park will serve as a historic, urban gathering place
complete with water features.
Stephanie Starks is a Valley native and recent graduate of Arizona
State University. Her articles have appeared in Scottsdale Magazine
and Food & Life.
Chandler resident "Flash" Gordon Murray is a card-carrying superhero
who began his photography career at age 8. |
