Ransom Water Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ransom Water Tower
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Plumb St. between Cartier and Columbus, Ransom, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1896 |
| Architectural style | Barrel-type water tower |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001723 |
| Added to NRHP | November 2, 1990 |
The Ransom Water Tower is an old water tower located in the small village of Ransom, Illinois. It was a very important building for the town's water supply for many years. Because of its history and design, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it's recognized as a special historical site in the United States.
Why the Ransom Water Tower Was Built
In the early 1890s, the village of Ransom faced a big problem: a fire caused a lot of damage. After this fire, the people of Ransom decided they needed a better way to get water. They wanted to build a public water system with a central water tower. This tower would store water for everyone in the village.
Meetings to plan the water system started in 1893 and 1894. By 1896, a large water tank was built. This tank could hold between 45,000 and 50,000 gallons of water! It sat on top of a strong brick tower. The tower helped the village get water from when it was built until July 19, 1990.
How the Water Tower Was Designed
The Ransom Water Tower was built on a hill. This was the highest spot in the center of town back then. Building it on a hill helped the water flow better to homes and businesses.
The tower itself was made of brick and stood about 40 feet tall. On top of this brick tower was a large wooden water tank. This tank was about 28 feet tall. The brick part of the tower was round, like a barrel. It was wider at the bottom, about 29 feet across, and got a little narrower as it went up, reaching about 24 feet across at the top.
Why the Tower Is Important
The Ransom Water Tower is very important to the history of Ransom village. It played a big part in helping the town grow after the damaging fire. Having a reliable water supply made the village safer and more attractive for people to live there. It also helped new businesses start up.
Because of its historical value and its role in the community's development, the Ransom Water Tower was officially added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on November 2, 1990.
