ANDERSONVILLE — After a three year wait, Andersonville residents awoke to the surprise construction of a new water tower to replace its beloved water tower Monday morning.
The construction of the new water tower, which is taking place in the Swedish American Museum parking lot a Ashland and Foster Avenues, is expected to take "this week and might go into next week," said the museum's Executive Director Karin Abercrombie.
The Swedish flag will be painted on the new fiberglass water tower, and a woodgrain finish will be added to mimic the old wooden water tower's look.
Once the water tower is built, the museum will apply for permits to return it to its perch on top of the museum, 5211 N. Clark St.
"It will be up some time in July or August," she said, adding the timeline of construction was dependent on the weather.
Painted in the likeness of the Swedish flag with a blue background and yellow cross, the Andersonville icon came down in 2014 after the water tower was damaged during the brutal winter.
Before it was taken down, the water tower had been atop the building since it was built in 1927.
Work began to replace the beloved Andersonville water tower Monday in the Swedish American Museum parking lot at Foster and Ashland Avenues. [DNAinfo/Josh McGhee]
Watch the tower be removed below:
