What's Going On: Stanton’s water tower must be saved, no excuses allowed

 I’ve been called a lot of things in 20 years of writing columns.

Subtle is never one of them and this column will do nothing to change that. 

So let me get straight to the point: Stanton’s coffee pot water tower must be saved, no matter what.  

There is no discussion or debate regarding this. Just as concisely, there are no acceptable excuses not to save it. 

All that remains is the how and when. 

I’m a little surprised not only at the amount of discussion regarding the actual possibility of tearing down this landmark, but also by the very stark reality of it. 

This coffee pot water tower is a landmark recognized throughout the world and exemplifies one of the greatest examples of the most important part of the American spirit: it’s quirkiness.

As Americans, we love and embrace our quirkiness and especially those centered around landmarks. 

The historic lineage of this fascination is centuries old. The French may have first recognized it when they gave us a 300-foot lawn ornament to stick in the ocean outside our busiest port. 

America is a country that spent millions of dollars carving faces into mountains, planted a giant croquet wicket next to its biggest river and turned a maximum security prison into a tourist attraction. 

But beyond the big name attractions like Mt. Rushmore, the Gateway Arch and Alcatraz, there are so many other wonderful little, well, quirky, places to enjoy that make America unique. 

Places like a palace made of corn (Mitchell, S.D.) and a Stonehenge replica made out of cars (Alliance, Neb.)

And yes, right there literally in between the site of Iowa’s largest unsolved mass murder and the birthplace of the art calendar sits the world’s largest coffee pot. 

It has to stay. 

That water tower gives Stanton something that can’t be measured, that can’t be quantified with a number or figure: it gives the town … flair.

And at the same time, it plugs Stanton, Montgomery County and all of southwest Iowa into the fabric of this country. 

Does the tower bring in tens of thousands of tourists to Stanton every year? No. Does it result in a double digit percentage increase in hotel stays in the area? Unlikely. 

But what it does do is give people a reason to stop the car in Stanton. That’s so invaluable. So many small towns like Stanton are so desperately trying to find a hook to get people to just pull off the highway and buy some gas and a cheeseburger. 

Stanton has that hook already built and installed.

All it needs is a little work and unfortunately, some money.

That’s where the hang-up seemingly always is. This time, the bill sounds like it will be around $250,000 to get things up to code to where there would be minimal upkeep expenses for several years to come. 

A quarter of a million dollars is no small figure. It’s a chunk of change. But it’s not a figure that can’t be raised. 

I don’t have an answer as to the how to raise the money. With something like this though, considering the tower’s ties to corporate America and Hollywood, in addition to its inherent historical significance, I can’t imagine there’s a lack of funding opportunities if diligently pursued.

Another reason I wouldn’t accept any excuses for this landmark not being saved is the fact it’s in Stanton. This community just raised millions of dollars for a new community center. This is a pittance by comparison and shouldn’t be difficult for those industrious Stanton residents. 

And no, I’m not being sarcastic. I really do believe this could be fairly easily raised if a concerted effort was made.

With that said, I also don’t believe it’s entirely on Stanton’s collective shoulders to save the water tower. 

This should be a joint effort not only by other communities in Montgomery County, but throughout southwest Iowa. I guarantee you there are some motorists, aware of the water tower, who drive on Highway 34 instead of the Interstate farther north when going to Des Moines and beyond. That is beneficial for every town along that Highway 34 corridor and every one, especially those larger ones locally, should be looking for creative ways to help Stanton with this project. 

I can’t over stress this. I have heard too many small community leaders bemoan how their nice, clean, attractive town just doesn’t have that hook to bring in tourists. 

Stanton has it and shouldn’t lose it for any reason.

Gregory Orear is the General Manager/Editor of the Red Oak Express and Glenwood Opinion-Tribune. He can be contacted at publisher@redoakexpress.com.