New Baltimore Envisions Good Life For Tower
City Planning and Economic Director Judy Sproat offers a New England-based company the chance to place their logo on the old water tower.
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An old water tower, visible across Anchor Bay, could soon represent more than New Baltimore's past.
The 170-foot rusty structure may epitomize the good life.
That's the idea City Planning and Economic Director Judy Sproat hatched this month for a trade with a New England-based clothing company.
In a letter to Life is good, Sproat asked the brand to paint the nonfunctioning tower for free. In return, the company could then place its logo on the finished coat. The logo is a happy face with sunglasses and a black beret.
According to the company website, Bert and John Jacobs knew nothing about the clothing business when they designed their first T-shirt in 1989. Through determination and vision, they kept their dream alive by selling shirts at local fairs and retail stores. The merchandise eventually gained popularity across the nation.
Sproat wrote to the owners April 14, asking their company to complete a paint job estimated to cost around $100,000 in exchange for free advertising on the tower seen along the shoreline.
She told the brothers they "epitomize the life most of us hope for ourselves–A good balance between work and play, generosity of spirit, health and happiness..."
Although they have yet to respond, she's hopeful they'll agree to work on the city's iconic tower.
"It really is a piece of Americana," she said.
Dorothy Stabile
9:55 am on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Huh? I question whether this is appropriate for the water tower. It definitely needs painting, but is that really what we want to have displayed on the tower? The tower has always been a guidepost for boaters and marked the location of New Baltimore from the water. Should the message on it really be advertising?
Lisa Edwards
10:44 am on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I like it! Sounds very welcoming to our downtown visitors...maybe even bring in some new visitors to check it out. :-)
Zack Stanton
11:23 am on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Agree completely with Dorothy. Inasmuch as the water tower should advertise anything, it ought to advertise downtown New Baltimore as a destination.
Angeline Smith
12:50 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
My first reaction is the same as Dorothy and Zack as soon as I read the article. If we advertise anything on the tower it should be New Baltimore. I'm having trouble coming up with any LONG-TERM positives for the city with allowinig any one company advertise on the water tower?! Is that the ONLY way to get the tower painted and assure its upkeep?
Laurie Huff
4:06 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I love it. It sure beats that rusty tower. I think a smiley face would be a welcoming sight to all. It also guarantees maintenance of that tower if a company has their logo on it. Laurie Huff
Beth Bagley-Stanton
11:04 am on Thursday, April 28, 2011
What could possibly be the harm in posting the message "LIFE IS GOOD" ? Seems that all of us who live here already know that. Why not share it with the the sky, the bay and all who visit here? Frankly, I think Judy Sproat has come up with a terribly clever solution and by involving a company who's products exude upscale relaxation and taking care of one's self. (Yoga clothes, etc.) I think it invites some really good vibes to our community. 'bout time!
Nikki Becker
5:21 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Isn't there something else we could do to restore our water tower rather than selling out to a company with a tacky logo? Why not hire local artists to create a logo that represents our community? Why not make this a community effort and keep it our own? If we slap their logo on the tower, we lose our identity.