A pair of water tanks in Fort Knox, KY are an iconic reminder of the region’s history. In recent years, the two towers have delivered digital connectivity rather than water, but creeping obsolescence will soon see the structures decommissioned and removed. As DVIDS Hub reports, better cell tower options and concerns about the integrity of the rusting towers have left the town with a difficult decision.
“Those towers are safe right now,” explained Jason Root, Director of the Fort Knox Directorate of Public Works. “What we’re worried about is in the long term sense. I would not want them to rust from the inside out and have the potential for something to go wrong. We had people looking at us and saying, ‘Hey, they’re historical. We’d like to keep them up,’” he continued. “We looked at that years ago, but the bill to repaint both water towers was $1.2 million; that is far beyond our ability.”
With a new cell tower serving the region and water service no longer relying on the tanks, arguments in favor of keeping the tanks become emotional and nostalgic rather than practical. The older of the two tanks has been in place since 1927, and is fondly remembered by veterans who completed Armored School basic training with the towers in view. The water tanks are also recognizable from several film appearances, notably the James Bond action adventure “Goldfinger,” according to DVIDS Hub.
“The tanks are contributing elements to the historic district, which overall embodies the 1920s’ and 1930s’ permanent Army construction style and the Quartermaster planning that went into it for that era,” stated Nikki Mills, Cultural Resources manager, Environmental Management Division. “They’re these important properties that contribute to the district’s landscape as a whole.”
To commemorate the water tanks, the Barr Memorial Library will host a display of interpretive panels that will allow the public to remember the towers and their contribution to the town. “We’ve collected as many photographs as we can that show the towers through time,” said Mills. “We want the panels to be in a place that people congregate and will see and access them.”
“Those two towers are a landmark, a moment in history, and they have defined the area,” added Root. “But there are times when we have to move forward. Taking steps like the interpretive panels, however, makes sure that our history isn’t lost.”
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