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An important part of World War II history is about to vanish from Bangor’s landscape. The decaying 1941 checkerboard steel water tower on Venture Way, near the city’s airport, along with a 60-year-old tower on outer Hammond Street, have been replaced by a 3.3 million-gallon tank near the older tower.
Sitting on a hill overlooking the original Dow Army Air Field, the old tank was a welcoming landmark visible to returning B-17, B-24 and other flight crews from Europe grateful to be back home. After the war, it was painted its familiar red-and-white design, and a topping light swept the sky and surrounding neighborhoods.
As historians, we urge the Bangor Water District to preserve parts of the dismantled tank for public viewing. Perhaps they could be displayed next to the tower light in the Maine Air Museum, and in other museums, or outside the Thomas Hill Standpipe. Chuck Harrison, general manager of the water district, and the water district board of trustees, have already expressed interest in exploring a preservation plan.
Few tangible reminders of Bangor’s crucial wartime effort remain, so we believe saving sections of the old water tower is vital. The time is now. Please seize this opportunity for history’s sake.
Richard R. Shaw
Bangor
Brian N. Swartz
Hampden
David H. Bergquist
Chichester, N.H.