Ransom Water Tower
Why it's listed
Ransom Water Tower is a round brick tower, forty feet high, that carries a twenty-eight foot wooden tank. Its walls are twenty-one inches thick and taper from about twenty-nine feet in diameter at the base to roughly twenty-four feet at the top. Inside, a six-inch pipe fed the tank from three wells, and a wooden stairway rises to the catwalk door. The village built it in 1896 after a fire in 1892 destroyed the east side of the business district and slowed the town's growth. Leaders chose a tank holding 45,000 to 50,000 gallons, far larger than some residents thought necessary for a town of about 200. Standing on the highest ground in what was then the village center, it also served as a landmark, with a lantern hung from its catwalk each night. It supplied water to Ransom's businesses and homes until July 1990, and the village grew to nearly 600 people before World War II.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tower meets Criterion A for its role in the growth and development of Ransom. It was the sole public water supply for the village's commercial, business and residential buildings from its 1896 dedication until July 1990. The abundant water supply is credited with attracting settlers and helping a business district develop.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90001723, listed November 2, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Plumb St. between Cartier and Columbus, Ransom |
|---|---|
| County | LaSalle County |
| Listed | November 2, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001723 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1896-1940 |
| Architectural style | Barrel type late 19th century brick water tower with wood tank |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The tower supplied the village's water from 1896 until July 19, 1990. The catwalk and hand rail were removed in 1960, and the original shingle roof was replaced by a cone-shaped metal roof after rotting in the early 1950s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.15663, -88.64918 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90001723.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q257410
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.