The Barnard water tower received a great deal of attention today from a varied group of people there to determine its future. In attendance were Patrick Zollner, Division Director of Cultural Resources for the Kansas State Historical Society; Kim Gant, Review and Compliance Coordinator for the KSHS; Travis Zirkle of Barnard, Incorporated; Joan Nothern, Board Member of the Kansas Preservation Alliance and the Glasco Foundation; Doug McKinney, Executive Director of the North Central Regional Planning Commission; John Cashatt of Schwab-Eaton Civil Engineering; Barb Rathbun, City Clerk of Barnard; and Nancy Houghton of the Barnard city council.
Travis Zirkle of Barnard, Incorporated had contacted Patrick Zollner to arrange for a site visit to the Barnard water tower. The fate of the current historic WPA built Art Deco water tower has been uncertain since the city embarked on a project to build a new standpipe that would require the demolition of the current landmark tower.
The group in attendance represented those that want to see the old tower preserved after the new one is constructed, those that want the landmark tower torn down, and those that must review the project and make the decision.
There was a great deal of discussion. Though there wasn’t agreement on what the outcome would be, there was an enormous amount of information shared and genuine communication between the different organizations present. John Cashatt of Schwab-Eaton did dispute that any concrete could make it to neighboring properties by falling off the tower.
Recently, Barnard, Incorporated made a request to the Kansas State Historical Society and HUD to be a consulting party involved in the project under the Section 106 process. The Section 106 process is used to review all federally funded or permitted projects for their impact on cultural resources. The grant that was approved for the new water standpipe project is funded by federal dollars. The remaining $108,000 is the responsibility of the City of Barnard. Bonds are being sold to meet that obligation.
My grandpa worked on this tower for many many years, (Mr. Otto Saunders) when we came to Barnard to visit as kids, we all fought over who could see "Grandpas" water tower first. Many memories there.
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ReplyDeleteMy home is your grandfather's former home. It has been pointed out to me many times that it is ironic that the effort to save the water tower was born out of the same house that the man who conceived of it lived in.
Came to Barnard on sunday to eat chicken and took many pictures of memories as a kid. Took photos of park, water tower, Saunders house, old ice house and many more.
DeleteSheree, Are you talking of pictures from the present or the past? If they are from the past, I would love to have pictures of the house. I have been trying to find some but haven't had any luck. Travis
ReplyDeleteHave lots from the past, will try and find some and I could scan them to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. It would be great to see what this house used to look like. My personal email is tazirk@aol.com or you can send to barnardbanter@aol.com. Thank you again.
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