Shamrock in Wheeler County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Chicago Bridge and Iron: A Tower Takes Shape

Chicago Bridge and Iron: <i>A Tower Takes Shape</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 12, 2025

1. Chicago Bridge and Iron: A Tower Takes Shape Marker

Inscription.
The Riveting Process In the early 20th century, welding was still in its infancy, and high strength steel bolts were not in use. The common practice of the day for metal construction was the painstaking process of riveting. The steel plates for the Shamrock tower were fabricated, and in some cases, preassembled at the Washington Heights shop. Each rivet hole was pre-punched at the time of fabrication. Riveting was done on the ground where each bay was assembled and in the air where the bays were joined together. A leather-like material was placed between each seam and then riveted.

It usually took four men to carry out the process of riveting: the forge man, the catcher, the rivet man, and the buck man, or bucker. A forge was used to heat the rivets red hot, usually nearby a seam. The forge man then tossed the rivet to the catcher who caught it in a catcher can. The rivet was removed with a set of tongs and placed in the hole. The rivet man then drove the rivet in with the use of an air hammer which could weigh from 35 to 60 pounds while the bucker held a bucking bar, or rivet set, against the seam and over the unformed

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end of the rivet called the buck tail. This action, called “bucking the rivet,” caused the buck tail to mushroom into its domed shape. Upon cooling, the rivet would contract, exerting further force to tighten the joint. This process was repeated approximately 12,000 times during the building of the Shamrock tower.

Captions (top to bottom)
• Tower components were fabricated at the Washington Heights, Illinois plant and were shipped by rail to Shamrock.
• Chicago Bridge and Iron workers in 1916 were likely responsible for the fabrication of Shamrock's tower.
(Photos and information courtesy of Chicago Bridge and Iron)

This panel is made possible through the generosity of Bobby and Shirley Galmor

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.

Location. 35° 12.86′ N, 100° 14.962′ W. Marker is in Shamrock, Texas, in Wheeler County. It can be reached from the intersection of North Main Street (U.S. 83) and Railroad Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Marker is in Tower Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 N Main

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 12, 2025

2. Chicago Bridge and Iron: A Tower Takes Shape Marker

This marker is third from left.

St, Shamrock TX 79079, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Texas Panhandle.

It is also on the American Great Plains

and specifically on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Raising of Shamrock's Tower (here, next to this marker); Construction Planning (here, next to this marker); Enoch Carlson: A Company Legend / “The Bridge” (here, next to this marker); Early Years: Shamrock in 1912 (here, next to this marker); Water Tower Innovations (here, next to this marker); A Tower's Influence (here, next to this marker); A Community Icon (here, next to this marker); The Shamrock Tower (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shamrock.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are

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Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 154 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 2, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.