For the love of coffee
In 1970, several organizations in Stanton, Iowa, a small community with many residents of Swedish descent, gathered funds to construct a new water tower — an elevated “supersize coffeepot” — that would sit high above the town. The project was led by then-city councilman Donald Peterson to create a “community image builder,” according to the July 1972 issue of The American City. The project even garnered the support of local celebrity Virginia Christine, better known as Mrs. Olson from the Folgers coffee commercials. The 36-foot-high, floral-patterned tank holds 40,000 gallons, or 640,000 cups, and has a diameter of 20 feet. During that time, the city called the water tower the World’s Largest Swedish Coffeepot.
Almost 35 years later, the coffeepot water tower still stands above the community of 700 residents. The tower has remained virtually unchanged since its construction, retaining its floral design.
In 2000, to accommodate Stanton’s growth, the city needed to increase its water storage capacity, so a new tower was constructed — a giant coffee cup — to complement the existing tower. Located just one-half mile from the coffeepot, the coffee cup tower stands 96 feet above the town and holds 150,000 gallons, or 2,400,000 cups. The city’s water department maintains both towers and repaints them every four to five years.