Lindström in Chisago County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Lindström's Iconic Water Tower

Welcome to Kaffe Kanna Park

Photographed by McGhiever, May 25, 2024

1. Lindström's Iconic Water Tower Marker

Inscription.

Lindström's Iconic Water Tower. Welcome to Kaffe Kanna Park. , The Water Tower's Evolution. 1848: Kichi Saga (Chisago) area is surveyed., 1880: Village of Lindström is platted on October 14., 1900: Voters approve a public waterworks system at a cost not to exceed $5,500. F.N. Benson to dig the city well for $1,000. Fairbanks Morse Company is the low bidder for waterworks system. O.W. Holcomb and F.W. Abrahamson are first to apply for city water., 1902: Village purchases a public drinking fountain for $66.40., 1905: Water rates of $7.50/year for dwellings, $10/year for saloons, $15/year for hotels and $10/year for livery stables and feed barns passed on a 3 to 2 vote. Water rates are adjusted for residents having indoor plumbing: bath and water closet $3/year, bath only $2/year in addition to regular rates. Those not satisfied with rates had the option of installing meters., 1908: Voters authorize $1,500 in bonds for a new water tower. Low bidder is Fairbanks Morse Co. at $2,490. The 1908 water tower had steel legs and a wooden tank at the top. The wooden tank was replaced with a steel tank in the 1940s., 1916: Petition for construction of water main on Maple Street., 1920: Council installs a new 500 candlepower light atop the water tank capable of being seen as far as North Branch and Forest Lake. Light is nicknamed "Star of Lindström.", 1933: A fire alarm siren is mounted on the water tower., 1947: Village leases the Henrikson building for $40 a month and pays Leo Henrickson $200 a month to serve as the manager of the city's new on-sale and off-sale municipal liquor establishment (today's Municipal Bar)., 1969: Lindström fluoridates its water., 1993: Old water tower converted to a Swedish coffee pot., An early postcard of Lindström's main street, St. Croix Avenue. The back of the postcard highlighted characteristics of the village as well as a list of industries located in Lindström at the time. The town's water tower can be seen in the background on the left side of the street., The 1908 Lindström water tower., Advertisement from the Chisago County Press, 1910, featuring Henrikson Brothers bar, now known as "The Muni.", View of Lindström's main street from the top of the water tower, taken in 1920. South Lindstrom Lake can be seen in the background., A 1908 postcard of Lindström shows the newly-built water tower in the background on the left. Notice the wooden "boardwalks" behind the horses and carriages., The City of Lindström has spectacular water quality! There was even an orange juice bottling plant that located here just because of the water quality; the water didn't need any treatment before being mixed with the orange juice concentrate that was trucked in from Florida., Lindström's water system relies on two wells, both of which are about 700 feet deep and draw water from the Mt. Simon aquifer., Did You Know? For a time, the coffee pot released steam from its spout to add to the charm of the historic town!. , Conversion to a Swedish Coffee Pot. In 1992 the city built a new 500,000 gallon water tower and planned to tear down the town's original water tower. One of the city's business owners, Marlene Smith, had the idea and donated the necessary money to convert the old water tower into the world's largest "Swedish Coffee Pot." The City Council voted to accept the Smith contribution., That initial conversation included: 1. Fabricating a handle, spout and knob for the top. 2. Removing the ladders from the reservoir portion (top) of the tower and cutting an access door. 3. Re-paining the reservoir (top) in a base white color. 4. Hand lettering "Välkommen till Lindström" and the Swedish rösemaling on two sides of the tower's reservoir., City staff did the basic design, and the construction and painting was accomplished by H&H Water Tower of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota for $18,650. Other bids for the same work ran as high as $35,000. All renovation costs were paid for by Marlene Smith, the owner of Lindström's largest private employer, Plastic Product's [sic] Company. Plastic Products Company also pays for the historic water tower's repainting when needed. A statue of Marlene sits on the city's east plaza.

The Water Tower's Evolution
1848: Kichi Saga (Chisago) area is surveyed.

1880: Village of Lindström is platted on October 14.

1900: Voters approve a public waterworks system at a cost not to exceed $5,500. F.N. Benson to dig the city well for $1,000. Fairbanks Morse Company is the low bidder for waterworks system. O.W. Holcomb and F.W. Abrahamson are first to apply for city water.

1902: Village purchases a public drinking fountain for $66.40.

1905: Water rates of $7.50/year for dwellings, $10/year for saloons, $15/year for hotels and $10/year for livery stables and feed barns passed on a 3 to 2 vote. Water rates are adjusted for residents having indoor plumbing: bath and water closet $3/year, bath only $2/year in addition to regular rates. Those not satisfied with rates had the option of installing meters.

1908: Voters authorize $1,500 in bonds for a new water tower. Low bidder is Fairbanks Morse Co. at $2,490. The 1908 water tower had steel legs and a wooden tank at the top. The wooden tank was replaced with a steel tank in the 1940s.

1916: Petition for construction of water main on Maple Street.

1920: Council

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installs a new 500 candlepower light atop the water tank capable of being seen as far as North Branch and Forest Lake. Light is nicknamed "Star of Lindström."

1933: A fire alarm siren is mounted on the water tower.

1947: Village leases the Henrikson building for $40 a month and pays Leo Henrickson $200 a month to serve as the manager of the city's new on-sale and off-sale municipal liquor establishment (today's Municipal Bar).

1969: Lindström fluoridates its water.

1993: Old water tower converted to a Swedish coffee pot.

An early postcard of Lindström's main street, St. Croix Avenue. The back of the postcard highlighted characteristics of the village as well as a list of industries located in Lindström at the time. The town's water tower can be seen in the background on the left side of the street.

The 1908 Lindström water tower.

Advertisement from the Chisago County Press, 1910, featuring Henrikson Brothers bar, now known as "The Muni."

View of Lindström's main street from the top of the water tower, taken in 1920. South Lindstrom Lake can be seen in the background.

A 1908 postcard of Lindström shows the newly-built water tower in the background on the left. Notice the wooden "boardwalks" behind the horses and carriages.

The

Marker under the water tower behind the Lindström Municipal Bar image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, May 25, 2024

2. Marker under the water tower behind the Lindström Municipal Bar

City of Lindström has spectacular water quality! There was even an orange juice bottling plant that located here just because of the water quality; the water didn't need any treatment before being mixed with the orange juice concentrate that was trucked in from Florida.

Lindström's water system relies on two wells, both of which are about 700 feet deep and draw water from the Mt. Simon aquifer.

Did You Know?
For a time, the coffee pot released steam from its spout to add to the charm of the historic town!

Conversion to a Swedish Coffee Pot
In 1992 the city built a new 500,000 gallon water tower and planned to tear down the town's original water tower. One of the city's business owners, Marlene Smith, had the idea and donated the necessary money to convert the old water tower into the world's largest "Swedish Coffee Pot." The City Council voted to accept the Smith contribution.

That initial conversation included:
1. Fabricating a handle, spout and knob for the top.
2. Removing the ladders from the reservoir portion (top) of the tower and cutting an access door.
3. Re-paining the reservoir (top) in a base white color.
4.

The Lindström Water Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, May 26, 2024

3. The Lindström Water Tower

Hand lettering "Välkommen till Lindström" and the Swedish rösemaling on two sides of the tower's reservoir.

City staff did the basic design, and the construction and painting was accomplished by H&H Water Tower of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota for $18,650. Other bids for the same work ran as high as $35,000. All renovation costs were paid for by Marlene Smith, the owner of Lindström's largest private employer, Plastic Product's [sic] Company. Plastic Products Company also pays for the historic water tower's repainting when needed. A statue of Marlene sits on the city's east plaza.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 45° 23.406′ N, 92° 50.75′ W. Marker is in Lindström, Minnesota, in Chisago County. It is on 1st Avenue N. (U.S. 8) west of N. Lakes Trail, on the left when traveling west. The marker is at the base of the water tower. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12860 Lake Boulevard, Lindstrom MN 55045, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

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It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Marlene Smith (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gustaf Anderson House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chisago County All Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Immigrant's Dream of America (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Emigrants (approx. ¼ mile away); Chisago City Veterans Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); Extortion 17 Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); Navy SEAL Nicholas P. Spehar Memorial Highway (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lindström.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 822 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 3, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.