After nearly a century of supplying water to the town of Oshkosh, the city upgraded its water delivery system in 2018, rendering the historic water tower obsolete. Plans were made to tear it down. “Not so fast”, said an alum who quickly organized a group of townspeople and other alums to form a preservation committee that was committed to keep the iconic structure part of the skyline of Oshkosh. The non-profit group sought donations and purchased the tower from the city of Oshkosh. Since then a fresh coat of paint, dynamic lighting, a garden, plaza, barn quilts, a metal sculpture, and mural have been added to create a a community gathering space at the historic structure.