Peoria Waterworks
Also known as: Pumping Station #1; Pumping Station #2; Main Well House
Why it's listed
Three brick buildings at the foot of Lorentz Avenue, northeast of downtown Peoria, make up the city's long-serving waterworks. Pumping Station #1 and the round Main Well House date to 1890, when the eastern owners Moffatt, Hodgkins, and Clark rebuilt the water system. Water first flowed from the new station on December 1, 1890. Pumping Station #2, designed by Hotchkiss & Harris, was added in 1913, and the older pumps then served as standby equipment. Station #1 is a strong example of Romanesque Revival design, with a rough stone base, deep window reveals, a four-story tower with corner turrets, and zinc griffins on the roof known locally as gargoyles. Inside, a circular pump well about fifty feet across and three stories deep once held steam-driven pumps. The complex has changed little apart from a removed smokestack, glass block windows and a 1959 addition. Its significance rests on its role in Peoria's growth as a manufacturing center and its architecture. It is still in use.
Significance in brief: The complex is the core of the municipal water system that helped Peoria develop as a major manufacturing center. Pumping Station #1 is the area's strongest example of Romanesque Revival civic architecture, and the group is known locally as the "Water Works." The buildings remain largely as built and are still in use.
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 80001403, listed March 18, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Lorentz Ave., Peoria |
|---|---|
| County | Peoria County |
| Listed | March 18, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001403 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890-1913 |
| Architect / builder | Moffatt, Hodgkins, and Clark (builder/owner, Pumping Station #1 and Main Well House); Hotchkiss & Harris, Architects (Pumping Station #2) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival (Pumping Station #1); the other two buildings are described as having no definite style |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The buildings are in good to excellent condition and remain in full use as a water utility, with the original site unchanged. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.72466, -89.55228 (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 80001403.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14688015
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.