Havana Water Tower
Also known as: Old Havana Water Tower
Why it's listed
Rising about 86 feet on the Main Street hill in Havana, Illinois, this octagonal water tower combines a five-story soft-brick base with a 50,000 gallon steel tank. It was built between August and November of 1889, after residents voted to install a public water system because the town lacked adequate water for fire protection and general use. The base is about fifty feet high, with walls 27 inches thick at the bottom and 18 inches at the top, and a band of ornamental brickwork beneath the tank. F. W. Raider served as engineer and Guido Jaeger as contractor. The tower was part of a system that also included ten supply wells and a pumping station. Later changes include a metal roof added around the 1950s and removal of the tank catwalk in the early 1970s. It is recognized for its role in the city's planning and development, and it still serves as water storage during system maintenance.
Significance in brief: The tower is significant under Criterion A for community planning and development as part of Havana's public water system, installed in 1889 to provide fire protection and water for residents. It has been the city's visible water storage landmark for over a hundred years and remains part of the system today.
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 93000325, listed April 22, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Pearl and Main Sts., NE corner, Havana |
|---|---|
| County | Mason County |
| Listed | April 22, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000325 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1889-1943 |
| Architect / builder | Raider, F. W., Engineer; Jaeger, Guido, Contractor |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Water Tower |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The tower is still in use, mainly as water storage during system maintenance. The form's current-function entry also lists vacant, but the narrative says it remains in use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.30061, -90.05881 (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 93000325.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5683109
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.