Water Tower Wednesday – The Granite Water Tower of Dell Rapids

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I found this beauty back in August during a trip to South Dakota for a family reunion. The old water tower was built in 1894 out of Sioux quartzite, a locally quarried stone. The forty five foot tower was operational until 1960 until replaced by a new tower. The old tower is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It looked pretty sturdy and well maintained to me for a 119 year old water tower. I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t last another 119 years. The water tank was placed at the top of the tower. There is more information here.

As a bonus, the water tower has its own geocache, “Dell Rapids Historic Series: Wasser Werks.”
The people in the photograph above from left to right are my Sister Ellen, my Uncle Glenn, who was on his very first geocaching hunt, and the world’s greatest BIL Irv. And yes, we found the cache. Or rather Irv found it.

Thanks to Daryl of Out and About in New York City about getting me interested in Water Towers. She has a regular feature called Water Tower Wednesday that I borrow every now and then.

8 thoughts on “Water Tower Wednesday – The Granite Water Tower of Dell Rapids

  1. Sylvia K

    What a great capture and an interesting
    old water tower!! You’re just getting into all kinds of interesting things/places these days!! Terrific! Thanks for sharing! Hope your week is going well!!

  2. G. W. Bill Miller

    The old cut stone is beautiful, and the contrast with the new tower very striking. Every road trip like this is the opportunity to stock up an archive of interesting photos to be kept in reserve. Nice work.

  3. Barb

    I like the contrast of old and new. Bob and I were just discussing this AM whether the present will yield any antiques for future generations to admire. It seems nothing now is made to last.

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