I saw this on a Facebook post on the group for Norfolk, Virginia:

It’s an old molasses tank, located near the water. (Norfolk was 300 years old in 1982—wow. Norfolk was also one of the first cities to go all-in on urban renewal, and a great deal of its old urban fabric was demolished. Here are some photos—you would not know that the city had not been leveled by a bombing campaign.)

This molasses tank, however, partially survives:

Built in 1989, as a gift from Taiwan, this pagoda used the concrete foundation of the molasses tank! It’s part of a park, restaurant, and event venue complex now. Important to note the foundation, not any part of the actual tower, is what survives.

Here’s another Facebook post with an old photo of the pagoda under construction:

This article is paywalled, but you can view some more photos at the top.

Here’s the waterfront, with the pagoda in the middle:

It’s a good example of an industrial waterfront becoming a public space. Here’s the old railyard/industrial area view:

It’s unfortunate that Norfolk’s historic core is basically no longer standing, but it’s very cool that something from the city’s industrial heritage was repurposed, even a concrete foundation is a thin line of continuity. The posts about it reveal some great comments, as is often the case for stuff like this. Like: “My father worked for Southgate Molasses and managed the tank prior to its current transformation.”

That’s the thing about keeping something around—it sparks memories that might otherwise be forgotten. And it can make a great public space, too.

Related Reading:

What Do You Think You’re Looking At? #24

What Do You Think You’re Looking At? #28

Drop Off Your Car for Coffee

Thank you for reading! Please consider upgrading to a paid subscription to help support this newsletter. You’ll get a weekly subscribers-only piece, plus full access to the archive: over 1,200 pieces and growing. And you’ll help ensure more like this!

Share