Bangor Water District Thomas Hill Standpipe
The Thomas Hill standpipe was designed by Ashley B. Tower of Tower and Wallace of New York and Holyoke, Mass. and built in 1897 by Major James M. Davis on land once owned by the Thomas brothers. Using a portable sawmill and blacksmith shop erected on site, the standpipe was built in just six months. The Standpipe is on the National Register of Historic Places and is an American Water Works Landmark.The standpipe is actually two structures - a 1.75 million gallon riveted steel tank enclosed by a wooden jacket. The tank is 75 feet in diameter and 50 feet tall, and is topped by a “carousel” (a three-ton steel drum for which 24 iron trusses reach to the sides of the building). The wooden jacket is 110 feet high and 85 feet in diameter and consists of twenty-four 12 inch x 12 inch by 48 feet hard pine main posts covered by 42,000 board-feet of hard pine and 220,000 cedar shingles. It sits upon a stone foundation 9 feet high and 3 ˝ feet thick. A 100-step winding staircase leads to the 12 foot wide promenade deck, which overlooks the City of Bangor and surrounding communities.
The standpipe is topped off with a 38-foot high flagpole and a
this page online
The standpipe continues to provide water storage and regulates water pressure for Bangor’s downtown.
Small auxiliary marker
This mounting stone was obtained from the Flood's Pond Watershed September 2000
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.
Location. 44° 48.45′ N, 68° 46.95′ W. Marker is in Bangor, Maine, in Penobscot County. Marker is on Thomas Hill Road, 0.1 miles south of Ohio St., on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 41 Thomas Hill Road, Bangor ME 04401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of First Permanent Jewish House of Worship in Maine (approx. half a mile away); War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Norumbega Parkway (approx. 0.6 miles away); Hannibal Hamlin (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hersey Memorial Building (Old Bangor City Hall) Bell (approx. 0.7 miles away); Saltonstall's Naval Fleet Gun (approx. 0.7 miles away); Spanish Bronze Cannon (approx. 0.7 miles away); A Place of Meeting (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bangor.
Regarding Bangor Water District Thomas Hill Standpipe.
Thomas Hill Standpipe
A unique civil structure, consisting of a 1.75 million gallon, riveted steel water tank enclosed by a wood-framed shroud and stairwell. A community icon, the standpipe provides outstanding views of the ‘Queen City’ and continues to be an integral component of the Bangor Water District’s modern-day water supply infrastructure.
Erected 1897 Designated by Maine Section, ASCE 2008
Also see . . . NRHP Listing. (Submitted on June 23, 2021, by James King of San Miguel, California.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2021, by James King of San Miguel, California. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 23, 2021, by James King of San Miguel, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
