Hallsville towers demolition stirs memories, questions of preservation mind set

HALLSVILLE A towering reminder of this towns history was removed Tuesday, but many longtime residents say the memories will remain.

Traci Morgan, who works at Hallsville Florist, spent the morning at her stores back door, thinking of the times she played on the First Baptist Church playground at the base of the downtown water tower, which was built in 1939.

I know its just a tower, but its history, Morgan said.

Morgan, a life-long Hallsville resident, arrived downtown at 8 a.m., about two hours after the dismantling began, to watch the familiar edifice being dissected by professional cutting torches and removed by crane, piece-by-piece.

I would have liked to have seen it stay there, but it has not been maintained, Morgan said. It has gone too far to be restored.

The Hallsville City Council in February approved the demolition of the downtown landmark to sell the land it sits on to First Baptist Church of Hallsville. The churchs campus surrounds the 35-foot-by-40 foot property.

First Baptist Church agreed to pay $12,700 to remove the water tower from the property.

It is a very small piece of property, but it has value to us in that it is downtown and connects to what we already have, Monty Pierce, associate pastor of education and administration, said in February.

Hallsville ISD spokeswoman Carol Greer arrived early Tuesday to snap photos as the towers lid was slowly lowered like a descending UFO to the ground. She said she remembered playing under the water tower as it overflowed its tank, spilling water on excited children.

Growing up by the only water tower in town was very special as a young child. There are many fond memories playing around the tower, but we always knew it was unlawful to climb it and never did, she said. I was very proud that Hallsville Home of the Bobcats was written on the tower. Its sad to see it go. Its been a part of downtown Hallsville for a long time. It is just part of growing up in Hallsville.

Follow this link:
Hallsville towers demolition stirs memories, questions of preservation mind set