Have You Noticed What’s Missing At The Thomas Hill Standpipe?

Those of us who live on Bangor’s West Side, have spotted that something is a little different at the iconic Thomas Hill Standpipe.

The Bangor Water District posted yesterday on social media that they had been receiving some phone calls wondering what is going on at the top of Thomas Hill Standpipe, and it turns out that the flagpole that has sat at the top for the last 104 years, needs some upkeep done to it. They expect the work to be finished in the next few weeks, and then all will be right with the world again.

Four separate times each year, the Thomas Hill standpipe in Bangor would open its doors so visitors can climb the staircase all the way to the top, where you simply get some of the most breathtaking views of the city. Well, COVID has put the kibosh to that for now. Here is hoping that 2022 returns this long-standing tradition. I have done it a few times, and it is 100% worth it

The Thomas Hill Standpipe, which holds 1,750,000 gallons of water, is a riveted wrought iron tank with a wood frame jacket. The metal tank is 50 feet high and 75 feet in diameter. It was built in 1897, and is an architecturally distinctive city landmark, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

And it has a place in pop culture history too! The structure served as the inspiration for the haunted and dangerous water tower in "It," and it's said Stephen King wrote much of the book on a park bench in the small park at the base of the tower.