Compton Hill Reservoir Park
Encyclopedia
Compton Hill Reservoir Park is a 36 acres (145,687 m²) public park
located in the Compton Heights
neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri
, USA. Located on one of the highest elevations within the city, the park surrounds a 28 million USgals (105,991.5 m³) reservoir
used to provide water
for many of the city's residents.
selected the site of the reservoir, one of the highest elevations with the city limits of 1855. As the reservoir occupied only 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) of the site, Kirkwood suggested the remaining land be turned into a park. The top of the reservoir structure was at one time covered with elevated tennis courts.
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, Missouri
, caused an overflow of pure chemically treated water into the sewer
system. The reservoir and water tower were renovated, in 1999, at a cost of $19 million dollars.
In 1969, Interstate 44
was constructed through the northern edge of the park, reducing the area of the park to its present size.
s in St. Louis. Whereas, in 1901, more than 423 stand pipe style water towers existed in the United States
, as of 2008 only 7 remain standing, three of which are in St. Louis (the other two being the Bissell Tower and the Grand Avenue Water Tower
). The 179 feet (54.6 m) tower was built to disguise a 6 feet (1.8 m) diameter, 130 feet (39.6 m) tall standpipe in its interior. The standpipe helped to control the dangerous surges in the city's pipes caused by the reciprocating pumps
and maintain an even water pressure. The water tower was designed by Harvey Ellis
who also had a hand in designing the headhouse for St. Louis Union Station
. 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. The Compton Hill Water Tower was declared a city landmark
in 1966 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972.
The statue The Naked Truth, unveiled in 1914, was a gift to the city of St. Louis by the German-American Alliance
in honor of Carl Schurz
, Emil Preetorius
and Carl Daenzer
, editors of the German
St. Louis newspaper Westliche Post
. 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. 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
.
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. The statue was designated a city landmark in 1969.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
located in the Compton Heights
Compton Heights, St. Louis
The Compton Heights historic neighborhood located on the near Southside of the City of St. Louis, Missouri in the shadow of the great water tower of Reservoir Park is one of the earliest planned residential developments of the American nineteenth century...
neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, USA. Located on one of the highest elevations within the city, the park surrounds a 28 million USgals (105,991.5 m³) reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
used to provide water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
for many of the city's residents.
History
James P. KirkwoodJames P. Kirkwood
James Pugh Kirkwood was a 19th-century American civil engineer.He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on March 27, 1807...
selected the site of the reservoir, one of the highest elevations with the city limits of 1855. As the reservoir occupied only 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) of the site, Kirkwood suggested the remaining land be turned into a park. The top of the reservoir structure was at one time covered with elevated tennis courts.
The water tower was retired in 1929, after 30 years, when the Howard Bend Plant was put in service: the static head
Hydraulic head
Hydraulic head or piezometric head is a specific measurement of water pressure above a geodetic datum. It is usually measured as a water surface elevation, expressed in units of length, at the entrance of a piezometer...
from the Stacy Park Reservoir, in what is now the St. Louis suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Olivette, Missouri
Olivette, Missouri
Olivette is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 7,737 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, caused an overflow of pure chemically treated water into the sewer
Sanitary sewer
A sanitary sewer is a separate underground carriage system specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to treatment or disposal. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also carry industrial wastewater...
system. The reservoir and water tower were renovated, in 1999, at a cost of $19 million dollars.
In 1969, Interstate 44
Interstate 44
Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
was constructed through the northern edge of the park, reducing the area of the park to its present size.
Compton Hill Water Tower
The Compton Hill Water Tower, built in 1898, is the youngest of three remaining stand pipe-water towerWater tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
s in St. Louis. Whereas, in 1901, more than 423 stand pipe style water towers existed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, as of 2008 only 7 remain standing, three of which are in St. Louis (the other two being the Bissell Tower and the Grand Avenue Water Tower
Grand Avenue Water Tower
The Grand Avenue Water Tower is a water tower located at the intersection of Grand Avenue and 20th street in the College Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. It is the oldest extant water tower in St. Louis, pre-dating both the Bissell Street Water Tower and the Compton Hill Water...
). The 179 feet (54.6 m) tower was built to disguise a 6 feet (1.8 m) diameter, 130 feet (39.6 m) tall standpipe in its interior. The standpipe helped to control the dangerous surges in the city's pipes caused by the reciprocating pumps
Reciprocating engine
A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common features of all types...
and maintain an even water pressure. The water tower was designed by Harvey Ellis
Harvey Ellis
Harvey Ellis was an architect, perspective renderer and painter. He worked in Rochester, New York; Utica, New York; St. Paul, Minnesota; Minneapolis, Minnesota; St. Joseph, Missouri; St...
who also had a hand in designing the headhouse for St. Louis Union Station
St. Louis Union Station
St. Louis Union Station, a National Historic Landmark, is a passenger train terminal in St. Louis, Missouri. Once the world's largest and busiest train station, it was converted in the early 1980s into a luxury hotel, shopping center, and entertainment complex...
. 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. The Compton Hill Water Tower was declared a city landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
in 1966 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972.
The Naked Truth
National German-American Alliance
The National German-American Alliance, also called the NGAA or Deutschamerikanische Nationalbund, was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1901 by Charles J. Hexamer, who also served as its president until 1917. Operating as a federation of ethnic German associations, by 1914 the...
in honor of Carl Schurz
Carl Schurz
Carl Christian Schurz was a German revolutionary, American statesman and reformer, and Union Army General in the American Civil War. He was also an accomplished journalist, newspaper editor and orator, who in 1869 became the first German-born American elected to the United States Senate.His wife,...
, Emil Preetorius
Emil Preetorius
Emil Preetorius was a 19th-century St. Louis journalist. He and Carl Daenzer were the “Nestors” of the German American press in the second half of the 19th century.-Biography:...
and Carl Daenzer
Carl Daenzer
Carl Daenzer [In Germany, Karl] founded the Westliche Post and was a long-time editor of the Anzeiger des Westens, two noted German-language newspapers in St. Louis, Missouri...
, editors of the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
St. Louis newspaper Westliche Post
Westliche Post
Westliche Post was a German-American daily newspaper published in St. Louis, Missouri. The Westliche Post was Republican in politics. Carl Schurz was a part owner for a time, and served as a U.S. Senator from Missouri for a portion of that time.-History:The Westliche Post was established...
. 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. At the request of Adolphus Busch
Adolphus Busch
Colonel Adolphus Busch was the German-born co-founder of Anheuser-Busch with his father-in-law, Eberhard Anheuser. His great-great-grandson, August Busch IV is now on the board of Anheuser-Busch InBev.-Biography:...
, who had contributed $20,000 of the $31,000 cost of the monument, the statue was made of bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
instead of white marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
to deemphasize the nudity
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
.
The statue was moved to its present location south of the water tower after Interstate 44
Interstate 44
Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
was constructed through the northern edge of the park. The statue was designated a city landmark in 1969.
See also
- Chicago Water TowerChicago Water TowerThe Chicago Water Tower is a contributing property in the Old Chicago Water Tower District landmark district. It is located at 806 North Michigan Avenue along the Magnificent Mile shopping district in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois...
- Louisville Water TowerLouisville Water TowerThe Water Tower of Louisville, Kentucky , is the oldest ornamental water tower in the world, having been built before the more famous Chicago Water Tower. Both the actual water tower and its pumping station are on the National Register of Historic Places...
- Tower Grove ParkTower Grove ParkTower Grove Park is a municipal park in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Most of its land was donated to the city by Henry Shaw in 1868. It is on 289 acres adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden, another of Shaw’s legacies. It extends 1.6 miles from west to east, between Kingshighway...
the park located a short distance south on Grand Boulevard
External links
- Compton Hill Reservoir Park official site
- Compton Hill Water Tower - Compton Heights neighborhood page about the water tower
- The Water Tower and Park Preservation Society
- Built St. Louis: the Water Towers - Information about the three remaining water towers in St. Louis