HCHBC Logo

Now that we have a web presence and are receiving visits from all over the country and even a couple of hits from the UK. I thought that maybe we should explain the club logo as it's the first thing any visitor sees when they open this page.

The Kokomo gas tower had long been the most prominent visual image of Kokomo. It was always the the first thing you would see as you drove into town. Built in 1954, it stood about 370 feet high. It could be seen from beyond the county lines to the north and south.

As a life-long Kokomoan, it was always a sign that I was back home. As a bike rider, it meant you could never get lost on a ride. Just find the tower on the horizon and ride toward it.

New technology made the tower obsolete and due to the high maintenance cost to keep the tower as a landmark, it was decided to bring it down. In 2003 Controlled Demolition, INC. was contracted to do the job. After making some strategic cuts in the structure and the placing of several sets of explosives, the tower was ready to make its final bow.

On Sept. 7th, 2003 at approximately 7:30AM, the charges were set off. A couple of puffs of smoke and several booms were heard and the tower began to lean over and the top began to lift off. In just a couple of seconds, it was gone.

As exciting as it was to see, it was a real heart breaker. Kokomo would never look the same. So in honor of the Kokomo Gas Tower (and the fact that it is shaped like a beer mug), the Howard County Home Brew Club has incorporated it into their logo.