The Witch Hat Renaissance: How My Neighborhood is Embracing the Iconic Headwear

Yesterday, as I was walking through my neighborhood, I noticed something out of the ordinary. Perched on top of a lamppost was a **witch hat**. Its vibrant purple color stood out against the backdrop of the residential street. Intrigued, I looked around to see if anyone else had noticed this peculiar sight. To my surprise, my neighbors seemed unfazed by the hat. Some walked right past it without a second glance, while others simply gave it a brief curious look before continuing on their way.

“This Safer Cities Initiative is a program that shows, when a city is properly policed and deployment levels are that of other cities across the country, we see much safer streets, much safer communities,” Moore said.

While only 80 people could be inside the tower at any time, nearly 5,000 people climbed it over the two-day event, said Lynn Von Korff of the Prospect Park Association. Reopening Minneapolis Witch s Hat Tower to the public and potentially making it available for large events like weddings will likely cost the city at least 350,000, according to a new assessment of the long-closed landmark.

Some walked right past it without a second glance, while others simply gave it a brief curious look before continuing on their way. It was as if the hat had become a part of the neighborhood's everyday scenery. As I pondered the presence of the witch hat, questions flooded my mind.

Repairing and reopening Minneapolis' Witch's Hat Tower could cost at least $350,000

The iconic water tower has been closed four years, but neighborhood groups and city leaders are pushing to reopen the landmark and expand public access to it.

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Reopening Minneapolis' Witch's Hat Tower to the public — and potentially making it available for large events like weddings — will likely cost the city at least $350,000, according to a new assessment of the long-closed landmark.

The 110-year-old Witch's Hat Tower, officially the Prospect Park Water Tower, was last open to the public for a "Doors Open" event in 2019. That's when a step in the narrow steel staircase coiling up to the observation deck broke beneath visitors' feet, forcing organizers to evacuate the building, said Susan Larson-Fleming, who was the archivist with the Hennepin History Museum until 2017. No one was allowed inside for four years while graffiti accrued around the tower's base and a heavily reinforced iron door kept would-be urban explorers at bay.

Now, neighborhood organizations say it's time to get the historic water tower the repairs it needs to reopen, and the city has a clearer picture of how much that could cost.

In May, Minneapolis sent a structural engineer from KLJ Engineering up into the tower to conduct a basic structural assessment. KLJ delivered its initial findings last month, which included estimated costs for a slate of options and the recommendation that the city employ a building science and forensics firm for deeper investigation.

KLJ's Drew Andersen found the tower in fair condition considering it was built in 1913. But there were a few visible problems including concrete deterioration, rebar corrosion and staircase connections that had rotated out of alignment and were no longer providing support.

"We're not surprised we're hearing that there are serious deficiencies," said Joe Ring, president of the Friends of Tower Hill Park, who is anxious to know when repairs will be ordered. "We're kind of dumbfounded because it doesn't seem to be moving forward."

The Friends and the Prospect Park neighborhood association volunteered to staff the tower on the occasions it was open in the past. Now, Ring says the neighborhood groups want the city — which owns the tower — and the Park Board — which owns the surrounding parkland — to work together to restore and maintain the site, which has a National Register of Historic Places designation.

The city asked KLJ to estimate costs for three paths forward: keeping the tower closed, retrofitting it for limited access to the historical tower observation deck or opening it to larger public events like weddings. The options range from $50,000 for localized repairs to $350,000 for limited scope renovation to $1.3 million for complex rehab.

The most expensive option would make the Witch's Tower far more accessible than in years past. Typically, the tower was open just a few hours of the year during the Pratt Community School's ice cream social attracted significant crowds hoping to glimpse its sweeping view of the city.

"If people wanted to get up to the tower, you had to wait in a line that kind of wrapped around the park and then down the street to University Avenue, it was so long," said Larson-Fleming.

That was the case when the tower was last accessible, for Doors Open 2019. While only 80 people could be inside the tower at any time, nearly 5,000 people climbed it over the two-day event, said Lynn Von Korff of the Prospect Park Association.

Council Member Robin Wonsley, whose ward includes Prospect Park, said the city is working to propose to the Park Board an agreement around shared maintenance responsibilities. Ideally, the tower would be restored to the point that it could be open to the public for more days of the year than it was before, she said.

"We want to make this a very special gathering space that can be part of a more regular experience in the lives of our residents who value this park and value the structure so deeply," she said. "It doesn't have to just be a one-time thing. Let's figure out how to make that happen."

Susan Du covers the city of Minneapolis for the Star Tribune.

Who had placed it there? Was it a prank or perhaps a subtle Halloween decoration that had been forgotten? I couldn't help but wonder if it held any significance or if it was simply a random act of whimsy. The witch hat, with its conical shape and pointed tip, evoked a sense of magic and mystery. It reminded me of fairy tales and folklore, where witches would don similar headwear as they concocted potions and cast spells. In that moment, the hat became a symbol, a small thread connecting the whimsical world of fantasy with the reality of my neighborhood. As the weeks went by, the witch hat remained on its perch, unaffected by the changing weather or passing time. It became a constant, a familiar sight for anyone who traversed the street. More curious than ever, I began asking my neighbors if they knew anything about the hat's origin. To my surprise, most of them had no idea it even existed. Their obliviousness puzzled me, but it also added to the charm of the witch hat. It was as if it had a secret, a silent presence that only a few were aware of. It became my neighborhood's hidden treasure, a small delight tucked away amidst the mundane. The witch hat in my neighborhood taught me a valuable lesson about perception. It reminded me that sometimes we overlook the extraordinary in search of the extraordinary. We become so caught up in our routines and daily lives that we fail to notice the small wonders that surround us. With each passing day, I grew more fond of the witch hat. It may have seemed out of place, but in reality, it fit perfectly in my neighborhood. It added a touch of whimsy and sparked conversations among those who noticed it. As I write this note, the witch hat still sits atop the lamppost, an enigmatic presence that has become a part of my daily walks. It serves as a reminder to always keep our eyes open, for even in the most ordinary places, magic can be found. So, the next time you find yourself walking through your neighborhood, take a moment to look around. Who knows what hidden treasure you might discover?.

Reviews for "The Witch Hat as a Symbol of Empowerment: How My Neighborhood is Embracing Self-Expression"

1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Witch Hat in My Neighborhood" after seeing all the positive reviews, but I was completely disappointed. The storyline felt rushed and lacked depth, and the characters were shallow and underdeveloped. I couldn't connect with any of them, and it made the reading experience quite dull. Overall, I found the book to be a major letdown and wouldn't recommend it.

2. Mike - 1 star - "Witch Hat in My Neighborhood" was one of the most boring books I've ever read. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, and the writing style was lackluster. The author failed to create any suspense or excitement, making it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic. Save yourself the time and skip this one.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch Hat in My Neighborhood," but it fell flat for me. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of mundane descriptions and sudden bursts of action that felt out of place. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me confused and uninvested in the magical aspects of the story. The potential for a great witchy read was there, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver.

The Witch Hat Movement: How My Neighborhood is Embracing the Occult