Now available, one of the only Union, New Jersey stamps in existence, the World’s Tallest Water Sphere stamp. This stamp is good for 37 cents, the price of a 1 ounce first class letter in the United States. You may upload images of the World’s Tallest Water Sphere and print stamps at Stamps.com.
Little did they know in 1929 that Union Center in 35 years would soon be a prime viewing spot for the World’s Tallest Water Sphere. Why in those days Union was a simple suburb of Elizabeth. Through careful money management, an attractive mix of business and residential planning, and an impressive ad campaign “What Helps Sluice, Helps Union”, the leaders of this town soon envisioned, invested, and developed a site for all the world to behold.
Union Township is the shining star of Union County, bordering the premier New Jersey communities of Elizabeth, Hillside, Springfield, Kenilworth, Roselle Park, Irvington, Maplewood, and Millburn. With over 54,000 residents, 260 miles of municipal roads and sanitary sewers, 80 miles of storm sewers, and hundreds of catch basins, Union leads New Jersey as an ideal place to live. According to the Union Township web site, In 2000, the Township of Union was honored to receive the United States White House designation as a Millenium Community. The Township of Union looks to the future with great optimism, and is proud to designate itself a great place to live, raise a family and do business.”
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World’s Tallest Water Sphere Artist’s Rendering, 2003 |
The author of this web site, graduate of Union High School class of 1980, has grown up with the World’s Tallest Water Sphere, admiring it’s prime location near the Kawameeh Swamp (kawameeh is the
Lenni Lenape word for “swamp”) and overseeing the world’s toughest highway exit at the Garden State Parkway and West Chestnut Street.
Vehicles must decelerate the 37 yard long exit ramp from the normal 84 m.p.h. unenforced speed limit
down to 12 m.p.h., while traversing rough pavement and loose gravel, making a sharp right turn of 330 degrees, descending 30 feet to the underpass below, as 3 or 4 rush hour maniacs cling to your rear bumper. In winter and in rainstorms, the maneuver is exacerbated by water, slush, sand, and highway salt. You have approximately 10 milliseconds to view the World’s Tallest Water Sphere from this vantage point.
Despite the lack of visitor ammenities, toilet facilities, tram or shuttle car arrangements, Kodak sponsored Photo Spots ™ , or plush mascots, the World’s Tallest Water Sphere is admired by millions of New Jersayans and particularly by the hundreds of thousands who have called Union Township home.
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World’s Tallest Water Sphere Its Full Majesty |
At the World’s Tallest Water Sphere Museum in Austin, Texas, visitors may arrange to view this nearly 14 inch (35 cm) tall styrene plastic model of the water tower. The tower is constructed from two HO scale “Modern Water Tower” model kits from Walther’s Model Railroading Cornerstone Series. While the stock kit water tower is a puny 9.5 inches (24 cm) tall, the author has taken two kits, and surgically cut and spliced them together to achieve the graceful towering dimensions of Union Township’s World’s Tallest Water Sphere. It’s hard to believe, but this is an over 47% improvement over the height of the original model kit.
The model is assembled with Testor’s Liquid Plastic Cement, primed with Krylon Gray Primer, painted with Tamiya Light Blue Metallic (TS-54), and protected with a coat of Krylon Matte Sealer.
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World’s Tallest Water Sphere Expensive Helicopter Photo |
Other custom features of the model include the two futuristic circular antennae beneath the base of the sphere (constructed with brass wire), the Gothic white “Union” lettering (dry transfer decals), and the all-important “water pump” logo one third of the way up the shaft of the tower (hand painted with acrylics). Some interpret this emblem as a water pump, but others have claimed it is an early iconic representation of the symbol used by the artist Prince during his turbulent days as a slave an employee of Sony Music.
Another important feature of the tower is the “weeping paint” used to make the six foot (2m) tall letters of the word Union. Some have claimed to see the image of Jesus Christ weeping for the travellers of the crowded Garden State Parkway. Others claim it is the cheap white latex paint. To date no scientific tests have supported either theory.
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World’s Tallest Water Sphere Circa 1840 |
Long time enthusiasts of the tower will remember its initial proposal at the Battle of Monmouth of the American War for Independence. Here in the hot summer of 1778, Continental Army General George Washington and British General Sir Henry Clinton both longed for a cool drink of clean, municipally filtered water. Even though some drinking water was available, it usually came from wells which could not provide the water pressure of a giant water sphere. Both generals envisioned some sort of
pressurized water blaster which could shoot water up to 30 feet, recommended for ages 4 and up, perhaps with a shoulder strap and authentic purple and green Hulk styling.
It was not until the mid 19th century that the first water sphere was constructed in Union Township. Shown here in its unveiling, the township residents laughed at its paltry height and petitioned the five members of the Township Committee, elected at-large for staggered three-year terms, for a taller water sphere, one that would command the respect of the entire world. The tall tower was such as success that eventually all of New Jersey’s important highways would pass within 1 mile of the tower. Today the tower provides millions of impressions each day. Motorists who see the tower are inspired by its majestic stature and artistic beauty.
Here is an aerial photo of the Union, New Jersey area looking west from a Continental Boeing 737 landing at Newark Liberty airport on 2004/12/27. The Union World’s Tallest Watersphere, now painted nearly-white, is on the right beneath the wing. The Kenilworth tower is on the left on a small hillock. On the western horizon are the Watchung mountains of New Jersey. Click on the photo to get a larger image.
Max Burbank, stepson of former Union Mayor Dr. Edward Goodkin, describes the Union Water Sphere as a haunting, omnipresent eye and sends the following anecdote:
My stepfather insisted the reason for the size of the Water Sphere was that all residents of Union Township tended to flush their toilets during prime time commercial breaks, and it was the only way to maintain sufficient pressure.
Robert Misseck, reporter for the Newark Star Ledger has alerted me to his 2003/09/05 article containing these facts:
I am still proud of the fact that I helped build it, and when I pass it with someone I tell them, ‘I helped build that.’
Erin Reilly, Corporate Communication / Government Affairs Representative of the Elizabethtown Water Company has sent me the following fun Union Water Sphere facts:
This site contains facts, information, and modelling hints for the World’s Tallest Water Sphere located in Union, New Jersey. Centered at the crossroads of the Garden State Parkway (exit 139), Interstate Route 78, U.S. Routes 22 and 124, and Morris Avenue (State Route 82), millions of motorists view this giant blue water tower each year. It is estimated that Union’s Water Sphere has more viewers per year than other famous towers such as Giotto’s Campanile in Florence, Italy, the Tower of London, United Kingdom, Coit Tower, San Francisco, and the Celtic Round Tower at Glendalough, Ireland.
Welcome the premiere site about the World’s Tallest Water Sphere in Union, New Jersey, U.S.A.