Published Date 2/5/16 11:38 AM
By Randy Glysch
As we proceed with the restoration and repainting of the Historic Village Water Tower, part of the restoration includes replacing a weather vane that was located on the top of the Historic Water Tower. We only had a few pictures of the Tower with the weather vane. The weather vane included an arrow that moved with the wind. The pictures we have show an arrow that is clearly damaged and bent. The weather vane fell over the top of the towers years ago, but we don't exactly know when. There are stories of local businesses near the Tower seeing parts of the weather vane on the ground, but no one had any idea what finally happened to them, until now. A few weeks ago the Village had a contractor exam the Tower in preparation for the upcoming restoration and repainting. As the constractors were on site, examining the Tower, they had a conversation with the owner (Bob) of the Badger Bicycle Company building next to the Welcome Center and Water Tower. The conversation lead to the weathervane, and Bob told the contractors he remembered finding a piece of the arrow of the weathervane. Bob went back into his autobody shop, and returned with the piece of the arrow off the historic weathervane. This piece of the weathervane arrow is now back in the possession of the Village, and plans are to display this piece of history in the Welcome Center for all who visit to see. This piece of the weathervane will be used to help redesign a replacement weathervane that will be installed on top of the newly restored and repainted Tower.