Benson Water Tower facts for kids
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Benson Water Tower
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Site of the tower, now occupied by the farther of the two houses
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clayton St. between Front and Pleasant Sts., Benson, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Fitchen Bros. |
| NRHP reference No. | 87002034 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1987 |
| Removed from NRHP | January 2, 2020 |
The Benson Water Tower was a very important building in Benson, Illinois. It was a tall tower that held a lot of water. People used this water for their homes and businesses. The tower was built in 1891 to help the town fight big fires. It gave water to the village for many years, until 1985.
This special tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it was recognized as an important historical site. Sadly, the tower was later taken down. It was removed from the historic places list in 2020.
What Did the Benson Water Tower Look Like?
The Benson Water Tower was a round tower made of red bricks. It stood about 65 feet (almost 20 meters) tall. At its base, it was about 16 feet (5 meters) wide. It got a little narrower at the top, where it was about 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide. The bricks used to build the tower were made right there in Benson.
On top of the brick tower sat a huge wooden water tank. This tank was made of strong redwood and was about 20 feet (6 meters) tall. Big steel bands held the wooden planks of the tank tightly together. When full, this tank could hold 15,000 barrels of water! A pipe about 6 inches (15 cm) wide connected the tank to the ground. There were ladders inside and outside the tower. A walkway went all around the top of the tank.
Why Was the Water Tower Built?
Before the water tower, the village of Benson had some big problems with fires. In 1884 and 1889, serious fires damaged the town's business area. These fires made it hard for Benson to grow. People in the village asked for better ways to fight fires.
So, in 1891, the village decided to build the water tower. A company called Fitchen Brothers Construction built it. It cost $6,400 back then, which would be a lot more money today.
How Did the Water Tower Help Benson?
The new water tower changed Benson for the better. With a steady supply of water, more people moved to the village. New homes and businesses were built. The tower also helped farms nearby. Farmers would come to the city to get water for their animals and crops. Even steam trains on the Chicago, Pekin and Southwestern Railroad used water from the tower.
Because it was so tall, the water tower became a famous landmark. You could see it from many miles away! It provided water to Benson for a long time, until 1985. That year, a new water tower was built to take its place.
The Benson Water Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 1987. This recognized its importance to the town's history. However, the tower was later taken down.
