Under the husk, work continues to preserve Ear of Corn Water Tower
The iconic golden kernels typically illuminating the Rochester skyline are currently shrouded. The Ear of Corn Water Tower is getting a makeover.
Olmsted County, owner of the tower and surrounding property, began renovations this spring and expects to finish by July 1. The county project also included demolition of the Seneca canning plant. Tower restoration alone costs $410,000, with the project total coming in at $1.1 million.
“The primary objective is to repaint it, and then we’re taking advantage of the opportunity to make other improvements.” said Mathew Miller, Olmsted County Director of Facilities and Building Operation.
The corn tower is being sandblasted to remove old paint and then repainted with a replication of the original artwork. Minor structural changes are also being made, such as fixing bad bolts.
Miller said improvements are being made to ensure that the tower has updated safety measures. Additional ladders and tie-offs will be added to properly access lights at the top of the tower that require continual service.
The county, he added, expects the tower will need repainting every 15-20 years, depending on weather conditions and paint durability.
The renovation was triggered after Olmsted County’s purchase of the Seneca canning plant in 2018, where the tower is located. The county decided to demolish the plant and restore the water tower simultaneously since workers would already be mobilized in the area.
New History, a company specializing in historical preservation, evaluated the tower and determined that it meets eligibility criteria to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rochester’s Heritage Preservation Commission also recommended the tower as a potential landmark.
Built in 1931, the tower depicts Rochester’s deep roots with agriculture.
“It’s an attraction that defines the city,” said Miller. “Rochester has always been known as the home of the Ear of Corn Water Tower.”
Haley Handelman is a summer news intern for Med City Beat. A graduate of Mayo High School, she now studies at Northwestern University.
