News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Centennial Celebration of Lake Arrowhead Tower (Update)

Centennial Celebration of Lake Arrowhead Tower (Update)

Official Birthday Party Hosted by ALA

By Michael P. Neufeld
Sunday, July 6, 2008

Update — Sunday 6:10 a.m.

Lake Arrowhead, CA — For 100 years, the blue tower has stood tall in Lake Arrowhead. Yesterday, Arrowhead Lake Association proudly presented a 100th birthday party for the 195-foot tower and it attracted quite a crowd.

Arrowhead Lake Association tossed a birthday party to celebrate the 100th birthday of the blue tower standing proud in Lake Arrowhead on Saturday. (Photo by Michadel P. Neufeld.)

Over 50 boats and a kayak or two surrounded the concrete structure completed July 5, 1908 as an outlet to send water off the hill.

The Lake Arrowhead tower nears completion in this photo taken late in 1907. The tower was built by Los Angeles contractor Arthur S. Bent and was finished July 5, 1908. (Photo by RIM Historical Society.)

Rim of the World Historical Society President W. Lee Cozad presented a brief history of the tower build by Los Angeles contractor Arthur S. Bent.

A barge carrying Rim of the World Historical Society President W. Lee Cozad and the band Back TraXX pulls into place at the Lake Arrowhead Tower. Cozad presented a short history of the tower that was completed in 1908. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Arrowhead Lake Association President Jack Cooperman displayed a resolution adopted by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors saluting the 100th anniversary of the completion of the tower that stands 195-feet above the lakebed. He was assisted by ALA staff including Laura Dyberg and Pamela deForest.

Arrowhead Lake Association President Jack Cooperman proudly displays the resolution adopted by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors saluting the 100th Anniversary of the Lake Arrowhead Tower. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Following the brief ceremony, the barge carrying the band Back TraXX made its way all around Lake Arrowhead to the delight of other boaters and ALA members enjoying the warm weather on their decks and docks.

Souvenir keyrings were given to the first 100 people who approached the second barge including kayaker Ginny Dunn from Lake Arrowhead.

Kayaker Ginny Dunn from Lake Arrowhead joined over 50 boats to help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Lake Arrowheads Tower on Saturday. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Red, white and blue birthday cupcakes were distributed to the boats that attended the ceremony utilizing a pool pole and an attached wire basket.

"Delicious," one young man shouted to ALA's deForest as he devoured his cupcake.

Original Story

Lake Arrowhead, CA – A 100th birthday party is scheduled at 11 a.m. July 5 for the blue tower located on Lake Arrowhead with Arrowhead Lake Association President Jack Cooperman presiding.

Lake Arrowhead (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

A resolution from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will be presented during the 30-minute event and Rim of the World Historical Society President W. Lee Cozad will be the guest speaker.

The first 100 persons visiting the tower for the centennial celebration will receive a souvenir. Back TraXX will provide the live entertainment

In addition to the birthday cake, individuals may pose for photos with the tower that stands 195-feet high. It was originally built as an outlet to transport water to the desert regions off the hill.

A few years ago, Huell Howser featured the tower on his popular television program California's Gold (Episode #2011 – Under Lake Arrowhead).

Howser took the 100-foot ride in the elevator in the tower to explore the 3,000 foot tunnel that runs under the lake. He commented during the show that "there is lots of wonderful old equipment, including pumps, engines and valves originally built for irrigation purposes that is hidden away."