Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Effort Taking Shape To Restore Landmark Or Pursue Other Options
Pieces to the puzzle that could help in the renovation of the landmark Titan 1 missile at Gotte Park are currently unusable and kept at the Kimball Landfill.
The Titan I Missile on display at Gotte Park remains a bit of an attraction, but it has seen better days.
Some are trying to bring those days back.
A local plan of action has been taken to attempt to either restore the Titan I or pursue other possible alternatives.
Assunta Calise-Nelson of Kimball will be heading up the effort and is ready to get more of Kimball involved with the project.
A meeting will be set in the near future to gather volunteers for the massive project and plan.
The historically significant missile was acquired in June 1961, but it has lost a considerable amount of its substance due to severe weather over the years and the required removal of hazardous material.
Only a portion of the missile remains on display, but two pieces of it are nearby and could prove useful at some point. However, those pieces are kept at the Kimball Landfill and currently unusable.
The top of the missile display came loose in May 1999 as strong winds started lifting it apart from its base. City personnel noticed it and roped off the area before it fell to the ground.
The top piece was mangled.
Over the years, the city has talked with the Air Force about repairing some of the damage or getting replacement parts from other old missiles.
The landmark was once disassembled to remove thorium-laced metal, then reassembled in 1997.
