{"id":771,"date":"2017-08-09T08:50:28","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T13:50:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/nfldhist\/?p=771"},"modified":"2018-12-10T12:11:34","modified_gmt":"2018-12-10T18:11:34","slug":"the-water-tanks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/nfldhist\/the-water-tanks\/","title":{"rendered":"The Water Tanks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Water Tanks<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

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Jeff M. Sauve<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

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Tanks A Lot!<\/p>\n

Nestled in Norway Valley are two domed water tanks which were constructed in the spring of 1961 for the city of Northfield. As early as 1904, the city placed its first water tank on Manitou Heights to take advantage of the natural elevation. In one college history, it was noted that \"The woodpile and the water tank remained a hiding place for the 'Order of Independent Smokers' when its members thought they had to have an after-dinner drag.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the creation of the large capacity tanks in 1961, students strongly lamented the intrusion into Norway Valley. One student wrote in the student newspaper, the Manitou Messenger (September 29, 1961), \u201cIn keeping with the policy of discouraging romantic adventures, the Vale of Tawasentha (vulgarly referred to as 'Norway Valley') has been desecrated with the addition of two million-gallon capacity water towers for Northfield residents in case the Well or the Muni run dry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another student, Jon Mathiason '63 composed a letter to the editor, under the headline, \u201cWater Tower Spoils Fun For Track Team, Lovers\u201d (May 19, 1962). Mathiason wrote, \u201c. . . the sad parting of that last refuge from civilization's onerous jaws, the hill in Norway Valley, which was lately occupied by trees, but now is to be the ignominious home of the new Northfield water tower.\u201d He added, \u201cHere is my heartfelt testimony of our loss\u201d and included a poem (below).<\/p>\n

Since 1961, the water tanks have witnessed hikers, berry pickers, the occasional graffiti or other nocturnal activity, but rarely have they elicited an outcry from students. The 2010-2011 St. Olaf College Junior Counselor Handbook: Learning Sustainability in First-Year Residence Halls, simply states that the tanks \u201cprovide the water pressure for all the faucets in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

Requiem for Norway Valley<\/p>\n

\u201cThe curfew tolls the knell of parting day,\u201d
\nThe weary runner wends the race away,
\nThe lovers too are in the Norway vale
\nWhen all together hear the fearsome wail.
\nThe buzzsaw breaks the stillness of the air
\nAnd Oles bold are coursing up to share
\nThe shock, the tremor, the remorse to see
\nThe verdant hilltop as 'tis doomed to be.
\nO virgin hilltop, had you not the power
\nTo resist the Northfield water tower?
\nAlas, alas, oh woe! The deed is done;
\nThe hill is nude beneath the cruel sun.
\nWho knew the plan, what evil minds conspired
\nTo defile the place where, their passions fired,
\nThe stalwart sons of Viking blood did go
\nTo celebrate the daughters of Manitou?
\nAll the remains of that secluded glen
\nAre stumps awaiting low sadistic men
\nWho come to dredge the hold for Water Tank
\nUpon the treeless hill's defiled flank.
\nCould yet our voices raise indignant cry
\nTo offices and power way on high
\nWho move these evils underneath our eyes
\nWith conscience that the highest bidder buys?
\nNay, nay, too late to do but sound the knell
\nUpon fond mem'rie's effervescent bell,
\nAnd read a requiem, singing mournful song
\nFor onward our St. Olaf moves along.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

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St. Olaf College Water Tank Under Construction (near Mellby Hall), ca. 1948<\/h3>

St. Olaf College Water Tank Under Construction (near Mellby Hall), ca. 1948\n<\/p><\/div>

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Current View: Water Tanks<\/h3>

A view of the water tanks tucked away in Norway Valley.\n<\/p><\/div>

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Alpha Delta<\/h3><\/div>
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1999 Ole Spirit at Homecoming<\/h3>

1999 Ole Spirit at Homecoming\n\nCreator\nSt. Olaf Student Annual, 2000 Viking Yearbook (page 4)<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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