Compton Hill Reservoir Park

Edit links
Coordinates: 38°36′51.84″N 90°14′13.96″W / 38.6144000°N 90.2372111°W / 38.6144000; -90.2372111
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Compton Hill Reservoir Park
St. Louis Landmark
Location
St. Louis, Missouri
Built1898
ArchitectHarvey Ellis
Architectural styleFrench Romanesque
NRHP reference No.72001555
Added to NRHPSeptember 29, 1972

38°36′51.84″N 90°14′13.96″W / 38.6144000°N 90.2372111°W / 38.6144000; -90.2372111 Compton Hill Reservoir Park is a 36-acre (15 ha) public

St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Located on one of the highest elevations within the city, the park surrounds a 28-million-US-gallon (110,000 m3) reservoir used to provide water for many of the city's residents.[1]

History

James P. Kirkwood selected the site of the reservoir, one of the highest elevations within the 1855 city limits.[2] As the reservoir occupied only 18 acres (7.3 ha) of the site, Kirkwood suggested the remaining land be turned into a park.[1] The top of the reservoir structure was at one time covered with elevated tennis courts; presently, two newer tennis courts lie to the east.

The water tower was retired in 1929, after 30 years, when the Howard Bend Plant was put in service: the static head from the Stacy Park Reservoir, in what is now the St. Louis suburb of Olivette, caused an overflow of pure chemically treated water into the sewer system.[3] The reservoir and water tower were renovated, in 1999, at a cost of $19 million.[1]

In 1969, Interstate 44 was constructed through the northern edge of the park, reducing the area of the park to its present size.[1]

Compton Hill Water Tower

Compton Hill Water Tower under scaffolding during construction, 1899.

The Compton Hill Water Tower, built in 1898, is the youngest of three remaining stand pipe-

Bissell Tower and the Grand Avenue Water Tower).[3] The 179-foot (55 m) tower was built to disguise a 6-foot (1.8 m) diameter, 130-foot (40 m) tall standpipe in its interior.[3] The standpipe helped to control the dangerous surges in the city's pipes caused by the reciprocating pumps and maintain an even water pressure.[3] The water tower was designed by Harvey Ellis who also had a hand in designing the headhouse for St. Louis Union Station.[3] Occasionally, the observation deck at the top of the water tower is opened to the public, allowing visitors to see 360-degree panoramic views of the city.[5] The Compton Hill Water Tower was declared a city landmark in 1966 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.[1]

The Naked Truth

The statue The Naked Truth was presented in honor of the local German American press

The statue The Naked Truth, unveiled in 1914, was a gift to the city of St. Louis by the

honor of Carl Schurz, Emil Preetorius and Carl Daenzer, editors of the German St. Louis newspaper Westliche Post.[1] Controversy erupted over the statue's nudity before the monument was even built when a jury selected the design of Wilhelm Wandschneider, the only non-local sculptor in the design contest.[6] At the request of Adolphus Busch, who had contributed $20,000 of the $31,000 cost of the monument, the statue was made of bronze instead of white marble to deemphasize the nudity.[1]

The statue was moved to its present location south of the water tower after Interstate 44 was constructed through the northern edge of the park.[6] The statue was designated a city landmark in 1969.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^
    St. Louis
    . Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  2. ^ Schworm, William B. "A History of the St. Louis Water Works". City of St. Louis Water Division. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  3. ^ a b c d e "National Register of Historic Places: Inventory - Nomination Form" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. 1972-09-29. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  4. OCLC 3704531
    . Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  5. ^ "Tower Openings". The Water Tower and Park Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  6. ^
    St. Louis
    . Retrieved 2008-05-30.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Compton Hill Reservoir Park.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Compton_Hill_Reservoir_Park&oldid=1170200286"