Friday, July 30, 1999
Tower controversy lingers
New park may silence debate over Oxford icon
BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
OXFORD — Though this college town's water tower disappeared a year ago, it continues to cast a shadow of controversy for some.
The city's tall downtown water tower was an Oxford icon since it was erected in the 1920s.
But during its final yearsits rusting exterior and disuse — no water was stored in it for years — made the tower a target for those without pleasant memories of lounging under it or using it as a convenient meeting place.
Preceding the tower's dismantling in August, the usually quiet community that surrounds Miami University was awash in contentious bickering that at one point included death threats to city officials.
“It got a little out of hand. This is a very vibrant community, and in our town we like to talk things out,” said Oxford Mayor Bill Snavely, who took office in December 1997, shortly after a November vote that saw a large number of city residents wanting the old water tower gone.
Notes threatening Mr. Snavely and other city leaders were left at their residences during the controversy.
But those that fought to keep the 76-year-old tower were organized, determined and “very vocal,” Mr. Snavely recalled.
In November 1997, voters decided in a nonbinding referendum to tear down the tower, although later a pro-tower faction raised $100,000 to keep it and launched an unsuccessful effort to save it.
Shelly Clark has lived in Oxford for 10 years. On a recent warm afternoon she nibbled on an ice cream cone while sitting on a bench near the concrete supports that are the only remnants of the tower.
Ms. Clark said that after years of the 135-foot tall structure acting as a beacon and meeting place, they remain a part of her lexicon, though the water tower is gone.
“I still say meet me up town under the water tower,” she said.
Ron Stevens, a 25-year- resident, said he wanted to see the tower stay but only under certain conditions.
“I thought it was neat. But I didn't like the idea of using tax money to save it,” he said.
But Bill Bruhn, a 32-year resident, couldn't see the water tower disappear fast enough.
“My feeling was tear that ugly thing down,” he said.
For the last 13 years Chris Henke has managed a clothing store on High Street in Oxford's business and retail center.
“I think the town misses its center. It was an icon to a lot of people,” said Mr. Henke, manager of O'Farrell's.
But plans for two new parks — one of which would be at the old water tower site — have Mr. Henke and others optimistic about a new “icon” for Oxford.
“The parks could be a wonderful thing for the town,” he said.
Plans for the two small parks — dubbed Memorial Park at the water tower site and Martin Luther King Jr. Park across the street — are before Oxford's city council, Mayor Snavely said.
“When it's all said and done, this town has come back together,” he said.
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