(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Melfort water tower

Iconic history, uncertain future: Melfort Water Tower approaching 100 years

Feb 24, 2025 | 1:00 PM

A well-known landmark is quickly approaching its 100th anniversary in the community.

According to the Melfort & District Museum’s archives, the water tower was purchased from the Prince Albert Penitentiary in 1927 and was moved into Melfort the following year.

Curator Brenda Mellon said the water tower is one of the few remaining in Saskatchewan with its design.

“The steel components present in its construction were manufactured in 1916 in Ontario by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company,” Mellon said.

The main feature of the water tower, the wooden enclosure, was added at a later date, sometime between 1930 and 1940. The enclosure was designed to guard against frost, according to Mellon.

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The beacon/light originally placed at the top of the tower was first put into service in 1929, and Mellon said the beacon has been valued as irreplaceable.

The tower was used by citizens of the community for about 50 years, according to Mellon. It functioned as a water tower from the time it was erected until it was taken out of service in October of 1978.

The water tower has had a challenging time in the years since it ceased serving the community in its intended purpose. A motion was passed by city council in 1990 that would see the tower destroyed, though there was no immediate action. The threat of demolition stirred up discontent among a group of citizens who formed a committee focusing on awareness of the structure’s impending demise. The group successfully gathered enough funds to have the tower repaired and it was subsequently declared a heritage site.

The structure’s fate is still being challenged due to the ravages of time, weather, and other factors. A formal inspection of the tower done in late 2023 indicated the roof and cladding of the structure is deteriorating. Rotting wood and a pigeon infestation have left the wooden structure in need of repair. JCK Engineering estimated the cost to be between $350,000 and $400,000. The city has not yet made a decision on whether it will proceed with the repair.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com