What the heck is that thing?
Here’s something I always wonder about when I see it, but then immediately forget: Across from the cemetery on Highland Street there is a series of roofs built on the ground in a field, enclosed by a fence.
A cursory search on PDD and Google revealed no answers about its purpose. It’s probably capping something boring like an old dump or the sewer, but I remain curious.
So, does anyone know what it is?
Underground water reservoir.
I’ve always been too scared to ask. I just ran with the “secret underground government doomsday bunker” theory.
Here is an article about it being a new and exciting component of Duluth’s expanding infrastructure:
Nov. 10, 1906: “The new reservoir at Duluth”
And here’s an article about it being an old and troubling component of Duluth’s aging infrastructure:
Nov. 13, 2011: “Duluth’s plumbing needs big fix“
In 2012, the first of many water rate increases went into effect to fix the roof on that reservoir.
In the 1990s, I grew up on Cody Street. I would take the dogs for walks up there. That was before the fence was in place around it. I did not know what it was until I asked one day and found out it was a reservoir. Needless to say, as a rebellious teen, I thought I was cool when I was walking on it.