Todd "Guest Blogging" here!
Grant is in the Cub Scouts, and one Saturday they had a service project to clean up the historic water tower on the base in Grafenwöhr. As an added bonus, we were given a tour of the water tower before the clean up. Natalie wanted to see the inside of the tower too. So, bright and early on a Saturday morning we met up with Grant's Cub Scout Pack.
Here is the outside of the tower on a bright and sunny January morning.
The water tower has several conference rooms and classrooms that can be reserved for various events. Here we are waiting to get a briefing about the history of the tower.
This is Is Mr. Federline, the Government Relations Advisor for the 7th Army Training Command. He is very knowledgeable about the history of the tower and the Grafenwöhr area and is a great tour guide!
In 1907, Bavarian Prince Luitpold directed the establishment of a training area at Grafenwöhr. Construction of the Water Tower started two year later and was finished in 1911. The picture above shows the tower as it looked in 1935. As you can see, it looks much the same now. Even today, the tower provides water for large sections of the main post with its 450 cubic meter water tank. The 43.5 meter (approx. 142 feet) high, half-timbered-style tower with its bays, stair tower and the canon silhouette on top quickly became the landmark of the training area and the city. It was pure luck that it survived the bombardment of April 1945 unharmed, although bombs fell all around it.
In 1907, Bavarian Prince Luitpold directed the establishment of a training area at Grafenwöhr. Construction of the Water Tower started two year later and was finished in 1911. The picture above shows the tower as it looked in 1935. As you can see, it looks much the same now. Even today, the tower provides water for large sections of the main post with its 450 cubic meter water tank. The 43.5 meter (approx. 142 feet) high, half-timbered-style tower with its bays, stair tower and the canon silhouette on top quickly became the landmark of the training area and the city. It was pure luck that it survived the bombardment of April 1945 unharmed, although bombs fell all around it.
Natalie and Grant standing at a door overlooking part of the Tower Barracks grounds. Hitler used this doorway to address German troops back when this was a Nazi military training facility.
Up, up we went! Watch your head!
Here is a view from the top floor of the tower looking out the East facing window.
Here is another view looking out the same window, but turning to look to the South.
Finally, a view from the top looking North towards the town of Grafenwöhr.
Well, after a tour of tower, it was time for the work to begin! In the warmer months, thousands of flies get stuck in the tower and then die. They are everywhere. Enter Cub Scouts (and one a brave sister) to come to the rescue.
Sibling teamwork cleaning up the bugs.
Grant giving one last sweep of the floor in one of the tower's rooms.
It was a good morning that combined history, cool views and community service. Time to go home and clean up! But not before one last view from the base of the tower.
Tchuss!
Tchuss!
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