Archive for the 'Fun Facts' Category

Tracking Us in Portland

Friday, December 4th, 2009

The Portland Water Bureau has written a blog article on this site. It is interesting to see various water companies and municipal water works tracking and linking to this site. Thanks to author Jennie Day-Burget of Blogtella for writing the nice article.
The Portland Water Bureau motto is “From Forest to Faucet”. The Union Township [...]

Here Comes the Flood

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Scientists at the World’s Tallest Water Sphere Research Center in Austin, Texas have determined the extent of damage possible to the World’s Tallest Water Sphere in the event of massive flooding. As many people know, the level of the oceans is rising due to global warming and the melting of polar ice caps. As the [...]

How to Draw the World’s Tallest Water Sphere

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

There are many artists that visit the World’s Tallest Water Sphere site. They make beautiful photographs, computer images, and artwork and contribute it to the site for all the world to see. Most of us gaze in awe at the wonderful creations they make that inspire us and give us hope for humankind, just as [...]

Weird N.J. Covers WTWS

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Whoops, I nearly forgot to mention that the latest issue of Weird N.J. (#32) has a nice article on the World’s Tallest Water Sphere.
Not only do they have wonderful color photos of the WTWS that you can carry conveniently on your next safari in Bostwana, you also get a colorful shot of the WTWS web [...]

Water Sphere versus Water Spheroid

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Many readers ask the World’s Tallest Water Sphere site, what exactly is a water sphere? What distinguishes a water sphere from a water spheroid? What is a water ellipsoid? What is the difference between a water tower and a water tank? Is the Union water tower, the world’s tallest water tower? To help answer these [...]

Signing for the Camera

Monday, April 6th, 2009

For people who want to flash secret signs for the camera, here is how you finger spell “WTWS” using American Sign Language finger spelling. I think it would be great if some of the photo submissions for the site showed you and your friends flashing the “WTWS” for your viewers and friends.
For those of us [...]

After All This Time the River Flowed

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

I looked out across the river today
I saw a city in the fog and an old church tower
Where the seagulls play.
And all this time,
the river flowed endlessly to the sea.
Come with me on an epic journey from the World’s Tallest Water Sphere to the sea. For millenia, the site of the World’s Tallest Water Sphere [...]

Life Before the Water Sphere – 1880

Friday, February 13th, 2009

We have covered Life Before the Water Sphere – 1951, and now it is time to go way back to life in Union Township, circa 1880, before the Union Flagship, before Springfield’s Playland Park, before the World’s Tallest Water Sphere.
From the map, circa 1880, courtesy of the New Jersey Division of Public Records, you can [...]

Another Fine Star Ledger Article on the WTWS

Friday, January 30th, 2009

The Star Ledger has another fine newspaper article on the World’s Tallest Water Sphere by Kelly Heyboer in her Jersey Blogs column. She interviews site owner and museum curator Dan Becker on the philosophical meaning of the WTWS, it’s role in society, and the incredible tallness of being. Click on the blog header to read [...]

Life Before the Water Sphere – 1951

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Where were you before the World’s Tallest Water Sphere existed? Since Union’s water tower was built in 1964, you would have to be at least 45 years old in the year 2009 to qualify.
The map circa 1951 shown above (courtesy the New Jersey Division of Public Records) reveals all sorts of interesting facts about Union [...]

Star Ledger Live Visits the World’s Tallest Water Sphere

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

Today the Star Ledger Live reporter Brian Donohue covers the World’s Tallest Water Sphere, this web site, and the WTWS Museum:

Ledger Live: The World’s Tallest Water Sphere

If the embedded video does not show, here is a link to the Ledger Live story and a link to a Blip TV version.

How Many Unions are in New Jersey?

Friday, February 1st, 2008

For many residents of New Jersey, this is a question that is taken for granted. Just as there are many Bobs in your classroom or Marys at your office, there are many Unions in New Jersey.
When people mentions the World’s Tallest Water Sphere, it is taken for granted that we mean Union Township, west of [...]

How Water Towers Work

Sunday, July 15th, 2007

In case you are wondering why water towers are so tall, or why they so often are placed on hills, there is a great article written by Marshall Brain at “How Water Towers Work”.
Not only do you get diagrams showing that the water goes inside the tower, you also see some photos of interesting and [...]

Street Views of the World’s Tallest Water Sphere

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

Google Maps now provides a service to see street views of places listed on the maps. Appropriately, the service is called Google Street views, and it is available via a new Street View button on the maps.
Not every street has a street photo view, but of course we checked, and the WTWS is listed. Apparently [...]

Google Sightseeing

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

One way to see the world without leaving your chair is to go Google Sightseeing. Using just a browser and an immense database of maps and aerial photography, one can virtually visit the world’s famous cities and landmarks, explore rivers and mountain ranges, see world heritage sites, or simply map out some vacation plans.
One of [...]

Connections

Friday, February 2nd, 2007

Some coincidences are stranger than fiction, including this set of Water Sphere facts worthy of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

The World’s Tallest Water Sphere is located in Union Township, New Jersey.
Less than one mile from the WTWS is Burnet Junior High School. Nearby is Burnet Avenue.
Both of these landmarks are named after past Union resident [...]

World’s Tallest Water Sphere Named Best Date Spot

Tuesday, January 16th, 2007

Strange but true. The LoveLine Radio Show has named Union’s WTWS one of its best date spots. See the article in the archives section of Best Date Spots.
“What could be cool or date-worthy about a water sphere? Well, for starters, you won’t find another larger one anywhere in the world. If that alone doesn’t impress [...]

Union Records Logo

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

Here is a brief followup to our recent posting on our fan pop band The Characters. Note that their records are released on the prestigious Union Records label. If you look closely you will see that the Union Records logo contains a graphic image of the World’s Tallest Water Sphere shrouded by a celestial [...]

United States Postage Increase

Saturday, January 7th, 2006

For our United States readers, do not forget that a 1 ounce first class postage stamp price will increase to 39 cents on Sunday 2006-01-08.

You can create your own World’s Tallest Water Sphere stamps at Stamps.com. Simply steal one of the beautiful World’s Tallest Water Sphere photos from this site, upload, pay, and you are [...]

Thomas A. Edison and the World’s Tallest Water Sphere

Sunday, December 11th, 2005

Is Thomas A. Edison connected to the World’s Tallest Water Sphere? Well, as far as I can tell, not directly. However, he did help design some concrete houses that were built by Charles Ingersoll in 1917. These historic houses are well cared-for and sitting nearly at the base of the World’s Tallest Water Sphere on [...]