Lena Water Tower
Why it's listed
Rising 122.5 feet above a triangular lot at 201 Vernon Street, this water tower was completed in 1896 to give Lena, Illinois, a reliable public water supply. The lower 56 feet are rock-faced limestone with six buttresses, and red brick with yellow brick corbelling continues above. A stainless steel tank, installed in 1984 to replace a redwood one, caps the structure. An underground concrete reservoir from 1907 on the same parcel is also counted as part of the property. The tower followed decades of fires that destroyed businesses and homes in the town despite wells, cisterns and a fire department. An earlier stone tower collapsed on Christmas morning in 1895 because its foundation was too shallow. The U.S. Wind, Engine and Pump Company of Batavia then rebuilt it on a new foundation. Water mains and set rates followed in 1896, bringing running water and better fire protection. The tower was recognized for its role in local government services between 1896 and 1946.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tower is locally significant under Criterion A for politics/government. It supplied water to Lena's residents and businesses from 1896 on, and it ended a long run of destructive fires and failed fire-protection measures. The first tower attempt collapsed in December 1895 before this one was completed.
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 97000034, listed February 20, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 Vernon St., Lena |
|---|---|
| County | Stephenson County |
| Listed | February 20, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000034 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1896-1946 |
| Architect / builder | U. S. Winds, Engine and Pump Company of Batavia Illinois |
| Architectural style | Other: Watertower |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still owned by the Village of Lena and listed with a current function of Government/Public Works. The adjacent former electric plant is used for storage by village departments and houses the town pump. The stainless steel tank replaced an earlier redwood tank in 1984. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38038, -89.82808 (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 97000034.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6522191
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.