| Description: |
- An Erickson Monument polar equatorial dial of light granite, approximately 5 feet (1.5m) in diameter and 6 inches (15cm) thick. The gnomon shaft is steel, 3 inches (7.5cm) in diameter, extending from the ground through the dial plate and outward another 18 inches (46cm). The base is a simple tier of raised concrete. 24 hours of radiating lines are inscribed on each side of the dial (summer and winter), ending with the hour in Arabic numbers. Time is graduated by half-hour and 5 minute marks. Numbers on the summer side follow the shadow clockwise. But during winter, looking at the reverse side, the hourly numbers accommodate a shadow that moves counterclockwise. Numbering of both summer and winter hours is overly aggressive, starting at 2am and extending to 10pm. Two equation of time graphs, each about 3 x 5 feet engraved in granite, are set at the north and south ends of the dial, providing corrections from Apr-Sep, and Oct-Mar. [The description to obtain watch time attributes Bloomington's longitude as 93:18 East instead of West. Further, it tells the user to subtract one hour for daylight savings time.] Nearly identical to the Port Arthur Dial, Texas, but without city names located in various time zones.
Originally Public Works Director Sam Hobbs and City staff suggested something out of the ordinary for the reservoir’s roof. With City Council approval, assorted playground equipment, tennis and shuffleboard courts, and a sundial were installed on top of the two 10 million gallon underground tanks. Though the recreational equipment has long since been removed, the granite and steel sundial remained. After the Bloomington Civic Plaza & Center for the Arts was opened in 2004, it was decided to move the sundial to the area in front of the Center. The move amounted to 0.343° eastward (1m 22m earlier in time). The granite chiselled Equation of Time of course was not changed. Nor was the polar axis shift of 0.03° southward changed for the new location.
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General Information: | Inscription: | - Owner: City of Bloomington
| - Inscribed on separate granite plaque, "City of Bloomington, Water at Your Service"
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- Designer: Stephen A. Ionides
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- Builder: Erickson Monument Co, 1245 Quivas, Denver CO 80264
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- Construction Date: 1969, moved 2004
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| References: |
- Compare this dial with other Erickson dials:
24, 81, 172, 194, 224, 415, 446, 447, 495, 5140, 511
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