Lena Water Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lena Water Tower
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| Location | Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA |
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| Area | <1 acre (0.4 ha) |
| Built | 1896 |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000034 |
| Added to NRHP | February 20, 1997 |
The Lena Water Tower is a tall structure in Lena, Illinois, United States. It was built in 1896 to help the village fight fires, which had been a big problem for 20 years. This water tower is actually the second one built, because the first attempt wasn't stable enough.
The tower stands about 122.5 feet (37.3 meters) tall. It's made from strong limestone and red brick. Inside, a stainless steel tank holds 50,000 gallons (190,000 liters) of water. This modern tank replaced an older wooden one in 1984. The site also has two other important structures: an old power plant building and a large 100,000-gallon (380,000-liter) reservoir. The power plant was built in 1905, and the reservoir was finished in 1907. Because of its history and importance, the Lena Water Tower was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The reservoir was also included as a historic part of the site.
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Building the Lena Water Tower
For many years before 1896, people in Lena talked about needing a water tower. Fires were a big concern. In the early 1870s, several fires hit buildings like stables, warehouses, and homes in and around Lena. A huge fire in Chicago in 1871 made people in Illinois, including Lena, very worried about fire safety. In 1874, a fire almost destroyed the local train depot. Fires kept happening through the 1870s and 1880s, and the local newspaper, the Lena Star, strongly pushed for a water tower to be built.
Work on the new reservoir and water tower began in June 1895. Workers drilled deep into the ground, reaching 400 feet (122 meters) before the drill got stuck! It took until October 1895 to free it, so crews had to work extra hard to catch up.
As the tower structure started to rise in November, a problem occurred. A large rock being lifted for the tower fell, damaging the first two floors. Then, on Christmas Day, a warm spell caused the mortar (the cement-like mix holding the bricks together) to crumble because it wasn't mixed well. People were upset and blamed the newspaper for pushing the project too fast. The newspaper, in turn, blamed the contractor for poor work, saying the foundation wasn't big enough for the tower.
In June 1896, the village leaders decided to hire a new company from Batavia, Illinois, to tear down the unstable tower and rebuild it correctly. On June 19, 1896, the company arrived to remove the old structure and start a new, stronger foundation using Portland cement. By July, the tower was 35 feet (11 meters) tall. By September, the brick part of the tower was finished at 100 feet (30 meters). Finally, in October 1896, the large cypress wood water tank was placed on top of the Lena Water Tower.
How the Tower Looks
The Lena Water Tower is located on a triangle-shaped piece of land in Lena, Illinois, which is in western Stephenson County. It's about 38 miles (61 kilometers) east of Galena, Illinois. The tower is 22 feet (6.7 meters) wide at its bottom and reaches a total height of 122.5 feet (37.3 meters).
The first 56 feet (17 meters) of the tower are built from large limestone blocks, each measuring 24 inches (61 centimeters) by 30 inches (76 centimeters). Six strong stone supports, called buttresses, stand along the first 50 feet (15 meters) of the tower. Above the limestone, the next 44 feet (13 meters) of the tower are covered in red brick. The limestone used for the tower came from a quarry just east of the village.
On top of the brick section of the Lena Water Tower sits a stainless steel tank. This tank stays in place just by the weight of the water inside it! The current tank replaced the old wooden one in 1984. It's painted black with "LENA" spelled out in big yellow letters. The tank is 22.5 feet (6.9 meters) tall and 18.6 feet (5.7 meters) wide. It holds 50,000 gallons (189,271 liters) of water and has a metal catwalk (a narrow walkway) around it.
Other Buildings on the Site
Lena Electric Light Plant Building
There is one other building on the Lena Water Tower site. This is the Electric Light Plant Building, built in 1905. It used to be where Lena's electricity was generated. Over the years, the building had several additions. In 1912, a brick section was added to hold a steam engine and boiler. Another brick addition was made in 1920.
The building's roof is covered with asphalt shingles, and the wooden parts under the roof (soffits) have been covered with aluminum. Many of the original doors and windows have been bricked over or changed. In 1978, all the old doors and windows were either completely or partly covered with brick. A new wooden door with windows was put in on the east side of the building.
In 1982, two more additions were built. A red brick section with a large garage door was added to the north side, and a shed with another garage door was added to the southeast side.
Reservoir
The reservoir on the site was finished in 1907. It connects to the old Electric Plant Building through two large 15-foot (4.6-meter) cast iron pipes. This concrete reservoir can hold 100,000 gallons (378,541 liters) of water and has a roof made of wood and metal.
Why the Tower is Important
The Lena Water Tower has been used continuously since it was built in 1896 and is the tallest structure in the village. Its main role has been providing water services to the people of Lena since 1896. This is the main reason why it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 20, 1997. The reservoir was also included in this historic listing. However, the Electric Plant Building was not included because it has been changed so much over the years. The Lena Water Tower is thought to be one of only three towers in Illinois built in a similar way, and it has become a special symbol of the village of Lena.
