Western Springs in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Western Springs Water Tower
Built 1892
| | Pride in the Past ~ Faith in the Future | |
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024
1. Western Springs Water Tower Marker
Roof struck by lightning in 1991 and burned for over five hours. A new roof was completed in 1993.
The tower served as the Village's first water tower. The steel tank was 43 feet high and 22 feet across and held 169,000 gallons. Most of the now empty tank is still inside the tower to this day.
Lower portion of building was constructed of 156 carloads of hand quarried Naperville limestone. The construction is notable for the extruded profile of the mortar joints.
The Tower was turned into a museum for the Western Springs Historical Society in 1970 and was accepted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Example of Romanesque Revival architecture popularized in the late 19th century.
Tower stairs were reconstructed in 2013 using pre-cast concrete with a computer-aided single cast curved top.
The tower consists of three floors suitable for office space and the building was used as municipal offices until 1968. The first floor housed the police department. The second floor was a court room and the third floor accommodated the village offices.
Height
this page online
Height above sea level: 784.9 ft
Width at base: 36.5 ft
Designed by Benezette Williams, Edgar Williams, & Ethan Philbrick
The original construction cost for the building was $79,119.
Time capsule buried below this marker in 2015.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the Time Capsules series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1991.
Location. 41° 48.579′ N, 87° 54.053′ W. Marker is in Western Springs, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Hillgrove Avenue north of Lawn Avenue. The marker is embedded into the sidewalk in front of the front entrance to the Western Springs Water Tower. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 914 Hillgrove Avenue, Western Springs IL 60558, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Korean War Memorial (here, next to this marker); World War II Memorial (here, next to this marker); The Water Tower (a few
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn
2. Western Springs Water Tower
More about this marker. A 1973 marker on the water tower itself also describes the history of this structure.
According to a newspaper report, the time capsule placed underneath this marker is to be opened in 2086, upon the 200th anniversary of Western Springs. The capsule includes children's essays about life in 2015 and predicting life in 2086, along with 2015 real estate listings, newspapers, photos, tax bills and train schedules, among other things.
Also see . . .
1. Western Springs buries time capsule as part of Water Tower celebration
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024
3. Western Springs Water Tower
A Metra train on the BNSF line can be seen passing the water tower.
Excerpt: "The 123-year-old tower represents history in Western Springs. An additional record of the villages history will now be available via a time capsule to be opened in 2086, Western Springs 200th anniversary, that was buried beneath the ground, under a new bronze medallion at the base of the tower."(Submitted on September 16, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Tower Museum official page. The Western Springs Historical Society operates a museum out of the water tower.
Excerpt: "On December 12, 1891, Mr. Wickerson, the village president at the time, sought the villages right to place a water tower on land that had been originally known as 'Block A. On January 27, 1892 Charles and Ruth Collins donated 'Block A' to the village of Western Springs with the understanding that it be used solely as the site for a water tower and public park. The deed also specified that the land could not be used for commercial purposes either then or at any time in(Submitted on September 16, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)the future.Photographed by Sean P. Flynn4. Western Springs Water TowerA view of the tower from across the BNSF train tracks.
Design and construction of the new water tower began shortly thereafter. Both were a collaboration between Benezette Williams and Edgar Williams of the firm of Williams and Williams (which later became known as MacRichie and Nichol) and Ethan Philbrick. All three were civil engineers and residents of Western Springs. Benezette Williams and Ethan Philbrick eventually served as village presidents. The cost of the Tower combined with the sewer and pumping system and the pumping station was $79,119.10."
3. National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form, 1981. Statement of Significance:
The Western Springs Water Tower has been a local community landmark since i t was built in 1892, and as such, has become the symbol of Western Springs,Constructed as a water tank and pumping station for the first village water supply system, the Water Tower is still a significant part of that system. For 70 years the three floors were utilized as offices for village government and in 1968 this area became the Western Springs Historical Society Museum. An important component of the Western Springs Civil Defense system is located in the Tower. Designed and built by Benezette Williams, the Tower is an outstanding example of the talent of this distinguished civil engineer. The Tower is a prominent part of local history and is a reminder to today's citizens of the far-reaching vision of the village fathers.(Submitted on August 11, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 403 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 16, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
