Paxton Water Tower, Centre & Market Streets, Paxton, Ford County, IL

1983 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Honorable Mention

Significance: The Paxton Water Tower was built in 1887. The tower and attached pumphouse were erected to increase water pressure in the mains, laid a few years earlier. The Mayor of Paxton, J. P. Middlecoff, contracted with Fairbanks, Morse, and Company of Chicago to build the Tower for $6,000 ($8,000 in bonds). The 80-foot high octagonal brick tower and four interior 12 x 12 inch timber columns supported an 18-foot high round wooden tank with conical roof, which had a capacity of 60,000 gallons. During the mid-1940's the tank was removed. Lancet windows with double row-lock moldings and corbeled brick courses at the top of the tower provide both decorative and functional details.

Survey number: HABS IL-1121

paxton ill paxton tower paxton water tower market market streets ford ford county illinois carol dyson rich hanpeter historic american buildings survey university of illinois paul zinni photo building plans architectural diagrams library of congress water supply

1933 - 1940

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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