Benson Water Tower

Benson Water Tower

Site of the tower, now occupied by the farther of the two houses
Location Clayton St. between Front and Pleasant Sts., Benson, Illinois
Coordinates 40°51′3.5″N 89°7′13.5″W / 40.850972°N 89.120417°W / 40.850972; -89.120417Coordinates: 40°51′3.5″N 89°7′13.5″W / 40.850972°N 89.120417°W / 40.850972; -89.120417
Area less than one acre
Built 1891
Architect Fitchen Bros.
NRHP Reference # 87002034[1]
Added to NRHP November 20, 1987

The Benson Water Tower was a historic water tower located on Clayton Street in Benson, Illinois. The tower was built in 1891 in response to several serious fires in Benson; it supplied the village with water until 1985. The tall brick tower had a large wooden water tank on top. The tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and has since been demolished.

Description

The round, red brick tower was 65 feet (20 m) tall with a base diameter of 16 feet 2 inches (4.93 m) that tapered to 14 feet 1 inch (4.29 m) at its top. The bricks used for the tower were made in Benson's own brickyard. The tower was topped by a 20-foot (6.1 m) tall redwood water tank; steel bands held the tank's wooden planks together. The tank held 15,000 barrels of water when full and was connected to the ground by a 6-inch (150 mm) diameter supply pipe. Ladders allowed access to both the inside and outside of the tower, and a catwalk surrounded the barrel.[2]

History

Replacement water tower

The village of Benson experienced major fires in its business district in 1884 and 1889, hindering its development as a commercial center. In response, citizens petitioned the village for improved fire protection, and the village commissioned the water tower in 1891. Fitchen Brothers Construction built the tower for $6,400, or approximately $169 thousand in present-day terms.[3] The new water tower led to economic and population growth in the village as new houses and businesses received a steady water supply from the tower. The tower also provided water to farms in the surrounding area, who transported water from the city to supplement their wells, as well as to steam trains on the Chicago, Pekin and Southwestern Railroad. Due to the tower's height, it became a town landmark that could be seen for miles. The water tower provided the village's water until 1985, when a new water tower was constructed.[2]

The water tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 1987.[1] While it has since been demolished, it remains on the National Register.

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 Shields, Lois M. National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Benson Water Tower. National Park Service. June 28, 1987.
  3. ↑ Inflation automatically calculated
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