From this location, the site of a former well house, you have a good view of the new water tower that was constructed in 2002. It is painted green and white in honor of the local high school colors, but why is the name on it “Adams-Friendship” instead of just “Adams”?
First of all, the water and sewer utilities provide service to both communities, The treatment plant is on Highway J in Friendship while the water tower, well houses, and most of the lift stations are in Adams. The school name has been Adams-Friendship for quite a long time, and many outsiders consider Adams-Friendship to be one entity. However, they are two distinct municipalities that are divided physically by the east-west North Street, historically by 55 years of existence, and in mindset by a huge chasm.
When the railroad decided to to have its route run a mile south of Friendship, the activity was concentrated in that area, and Friendship chose not to expand south to encompass this new growth. Adams was born as a railroad town in 1912, and Friendship, founded not long after Wisconsin statehood, came into being because of logging, farming, and a grist mill. Over the years there have been attempts to merge the two relatively small communities but to no avail. The most recent attempt was around the time the new water tower was being painted, and in case an advisory poll recommended this merger, the combined name was painted on the water tower. City of Adams residents were in favor of the merger, the Village of Friendship residents were not. Adams and Friendship remain divided on the maps, but they are together on the new water tower.
Permission for this cache placement has been granted by City of Adams Streets Superintendent, Dave Mead, with the knowledge of City Administrator Robert Ellisor.