CHICAGO – Andersonville’s beloved water tower—famous for resembling the Swedish flag was once a cornerstone of the largely Scandinavian community.  Sitting atop the Swedish American Museum at 5211 N. Clark, the tower was an enduring neighborhood icon.  But it suffered damage during the harsh winter of 2014 and posed a threat to the building.  Sadly, museum staff had to remove the tower. Residents never knew how long it would take for the tower to rise again.

 

One resident, Catie Smiley, moved to Andersonville in the winter of 2014 and has lived in two different apartments in the neighborhood.  Currently, she lives just four blocks south of the museum.  Shortly after moving to the community, the water tower was removed.

 

“Strangely enough I fell in love with Andersonville because of the quaint small town feel while still being in Chicago,” Smiley said.  “I only saw the water tower for about a month before it was removed and I heard rumors that it would be replaced one day. I was happy to hear these were true.  I think having the water tower back will help reestablish some of Andersonville’s historical charm.  It’s especially nice because we just lost the Swedish Bakery and I loved going there.”

 

The Swedish Bakery was another main cultural icon in Andersonville that officially closed at the end of February 2017 after 88 years of business. After its shuttering, residents are ready for the water tower to be replaced but remain concerned that the neighborhood is losing some of its Swedish heritage. 

 

But they immediately started to fundraise for the water towers repair or replacement.  Since then Andersonville residents have been anxious to regain their distinctive identity and have been happily contributing to its return.