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

Water Tower Innovations

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 12, 2025

1. Water Tower Innovations Marker

Inscription.

Water Tower Innovations. . “Whatever is, is wrong.” – George Horton. George Horton had a saying: “Whatever is, is wrong.” Under his leadership, CB&I developed the practice of always searching for a better design, a faster method, a safer process, a better fit-up gadget. This kind of forward thinking kept Chicago Bridge and Iron at the forefront of its industry. – from The Bridge Works: A History of Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, 1987 , Elevated Tanks . With the expansion of the railroads, new communities began to rise up out of the prairie. Chicago Bridge and Iron met the need for water in these communities with their new innovations on the elevated water storage tank. These tanks were used primarily to overcome low pressure during periods of peak demand and to maintain uniform pressure in the distribution systems. The Shamrock tower attained its height out of necessity. CB&I would commonly take a topography of the community to determine the height needed to maintain pressure at all points in the main. There are two basic types of elevated tanks: the single pedestal and the multi-column tanks with different style variations of each. The Shamrock tower is a common style of the day with an elliptical bottom and cone roof. , Chicago Bridge and Iron built its first steel elevated water tank in 1894 at Fort Dodge, Iowa. Its height reached over 115 feet. Chicago Bridge and Iron was the builder of by far the most elevated tanks in the state of Texas. According to Jim Tysse, CB&I engineer, records show some 1260 tanks constructed by CB&I in Texas; 906 of these are the multi-column type. The Shamrock tower is documented as the tallest of its type and style in the state. While not one of its biggest products, elevated tanks remain one of the most visible examples of CB&I craftsmanship. , Captions (left to right) . The first elevated water storage tank was constructed by Chicago Bridge at Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1894. The structure held 104,000 gallons of water and stood 116' 6". . This turn of the century municipal elevated water tank is typical of the thousands built by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. . CB&I's first advertising tank was built in 1915 for the City Dairy Company of Toronto. . The first all-welded Watersphere elevated tank was built in 1939 at Longmont, Colorado. , (Photos and information courtesy of Chicago Bridge and Iron). This panel is made possible through the generosity of Steve and Amy Ocker

“Whatever is, is wrong.” – George Horton
George Horton had a saying: “Whatever is, is wrong.” Under his leadership, CB&I developed the practice of always searching for a better design, a faster method, a safer process, a better fit-up gadget. This kind of forward thinking kept Chicago Bridge and Iron at the forefront of its industry. – from The Bridge Works: A History of Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, 1987

Elevated Tanks With the expansion of the railroads, new communities began to rise up out of the prairie. Chicago Bridge and Iron met the need for water in these communities with their new innovations on the elevated water storage tank. These tanks were used primarily to overcome low pressure during periods of peak demand and to maintain uniform pressure in the distribution systems. The Shamrock tower attained its height out of necessity. CB&I would commonly take a topography of the community to determine the height needed to maintain pressure at all points in the main. There are two basic types of elevated tanks: the single pedestal and the multi-column tanks with different style variations of each. The Shamrock tower is a common style of the day with an elliptical bottom and cone roof.

Chicago Bridge and Iron

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built its first steel elevated water tank in 1894 at Fort Dodge, Iowa. Its height reached over 115 feet. Chicago Bridge and Iron was the builder of by far the most elevated tanks in the state of Texas. According to Jim Tysse, CB&I engineer, records show some 1260 tanks constructed by CB&I in Texas; 906 of these are the multi-column type. The Shamrock tower is documented as the tallest of its type and style in the state. While not one of its biggest products, elevated tanks remain one of the most visible examples of CB&I craftsmanship.

Captions (left to right)
• The first elevated water storage tank was constructed by Chicago Bridge at Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1894. The structure held 104,000 gallons of water and stood 116' 6".
• This turn of the century municipal elevated water tank is typical of the thousands built by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company.
• CB&I's first advertising tank was built in 1915 for the City Dairy Company of Toronto.
• The first all-welded Watersphere elevated tank was built in 1939 at Longmont, Colorado.

(Photos and information courtesy of Chicago Bridge and Iron).
This panel is made possible through the generosity of Steve and Amy Ocker

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 35°

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 12, 2025

2. Water Tower Innovations Marker

This marker is the fourth one from the right.

12.86′ N, 100° 14.964′ W. Marker is in Shamrock, Texas, in Wheeler County. It is at the intersection of North Main Street (U.S. 83) and Railroad Avenue, on the left when traveling north on North Main Street. Marker is in Tower Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 N Main 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: A Tower's Influence (here, next to this marker); Enoch Carlson: A Company Legend / “The Bridge” (here, next to this marker); A Community Icon (here, next to this marker); The Raising of Shamrock's Tower (here, next to this marker); The Shamrock Tower (here, next to this marker); Chicago Bridge and Iron: A Tower Takes Shape (here, next to this marker); Construction Planning (here, next to this marker); Early Years: Shamrock in 1912 (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 related to this marker.

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 259 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 2, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on June 3, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.