BRYAN — A water tower near the Spangler Candy Co. plant on Bryan’s northwest side is about to be repainted to celebrate and promote Spangler’s best-known product: Dum Dums lollipops.
Spangler and the Bryan Board of Public Affairs jointly announced last week that Eric Henn, an award-winning muralist, will paint the rendering of eight Dum-Dums pops surrounding the tank, with its white legs representing their sticks, at Spangler’s expense. The candy maker also will contribute $25,000 to the cost of base-coat paint and the tower’s future maintenance.
The city’s name will be painted in large letters down the tower’s riser pipe.
“We are really excited for the opportunity to make this water tower an even larger asset for our community besides just holding water,” Kirk Vashaw, Spangler’s chief executive officer, said in a company statement. “With its new design painted by a world-famous artist, it will become a new landmark for Bryan and will provide a great opportunity for our city.”
The city typically needs to repaint the water tower every 15 years or so.
“We are grateful to Spangler for their financial support of this project,” said Derek Schultz, Bryan Municipal Utilities’ operations manager. “We have been working with Spangler for a long time, and we are really pleased about the results — an impressive water-tower design that will benefit the community, with no additional cost to the local ratepayers.”
The water tower design — which features Dum Dums’ cherry, blu raspberry, root beer, cream soda, watermelon, grape, and orange flavors plus the brand’s cheeky Mystery? wrapper — was created by Spangler in collaboration with the city, its painting contractor, and Mr. Henn, who has painted water towers and “super-size” murals for more than 30 years and around the world from Australia to Los Angeles.
Each of the lollipops will be 65 feet tall from the top of the pop to the bottom of the stick, said Diana Moore Eschhofen, a Spangler spokesman.
The Board of Public Affairs officially approved the design and accepted Spangler’s financial contribution during a meeting Tuesday.
Mr. Henn is scheduled to begin his work in the fall — weather permitting — once the city contractor has completed the water tower’s base coat of paint. Ms. Eschhofen said his painting is expected to take eight to 10 weeks to complete.
Mr. Vashaw said Spangler plans to build a viewing platform on its property so visitors can take photographs of it — and “selfies” with it. The company also is developing Spangler Candy World, on the east side of Bryan’s downtown square, with an opening scheduled next year, he noted.
Spangler Candy World “promises to attract visitors to Bryan year-round, and the newly designed water tower will enhance its impact,” Spangler said in its statement.
“Spangler’s Basic Beliefs include a commitment to be a positive force in the communities where we do business,” Mr. Vashaw said. “This water tower will be a work of art that makes visiting and living in our community more fun.”
First Published July 9, 2022, 3:25 p.m.
