Tanks, A Lot by CoreyBlack
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Description
There are a lot of these old elevated water tanks all over Chicago. They sprout amid the real estate like near ubiquitous sentry's from a distant past. I don't know the history of these things, but I would imagine it has something to do with the Great Chicago Fire of 140 years ago. I don't even know if they're still in use. Like most modern cities, Chicago has a full compliment of fire hydrants, fire engines and firemen. So, the tanks would seem to be redundant.. But still, they exist. In good neighborhoods and bad. Towering amid the rubble of South Side slums, or the million dollar address's of the Gold Coast. Some of them have decayed to the point where their viability is obviously compromised, but many others appear to be implacably holding their own against the ravages of time. The example you see here seems to be holding up particularly well. So well, in fact, that it makes me wonder if it's still in use. The structure seems solid and there are hose connections at the bottom of the standpipe. They are, however, somewhat corroded. When you stand underneath it long enough, you notice a slight groaning noise and an occasional drop of water will pelt you in the face. Maybe it's just my imagination, but there's a slightly musty smell that begins to permeate my nostrils. Maybe it's the occasional water drop. Maybe it's the wood of the tank. Or maybe it's the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt charging up San Juan Hill. You can feel a lot of history underneath this water tank; it's practically reaching out of the elderly steel beams to touch you,
Anyway, there are a lot of these old water tanks in Chicago. I don't know what they're for. Maybe they're an ode to paranoia and superstition. Lucky talismans to blot out the bad memory of The Great Fire. A psychological fail-safe against the fear of another. The old stand by. Or maybe it would just cost too much to tear them all down.
Photographed between Addison Street and Waveland Avenue in the Lakeview area of Chicago on June 17, 2010.
Comments (19)
beachzz
You're welcome!! Couldn't resist that one!! I love these old tanks--there's one not far from here and it became the senior class tradition to climb it and paint the year on the side. That of course, was banned, and the they built this crazy fence around it to keep the kids off. It worked, cuz it's nice and clean these days. I kinda miss the art, though!
Osper
AN icon!!! Days gone bye!
Chipka
I really like the details in this! I've always liked the old water towers that once stood on nearly every major rooftop; they always look so precarious. I'm surprised that many of them still function. Do many of them still function? I suspect at least one or two might, but that would also mean that they're serving pretty old sprinkler systems. As a kid, I always wondered if there could ever be a fire that exceeds the water/holding capacity of one of those tanks. Hopefully there never were. And, I'll admit that, in the strange ways known to me, I always wanted to convert one into a personal dwelling with an elevator in place of the water pipe--and a ladder, in case of blackouts. I still think that it would be cool to live in one. Maybe this one...well...maybe not. It might still be functional in which case, my books would get wet. But anyway, I really like this shot. It's nicely crisp and a little bit stark, and strangely alien. It's funny how something so familiar can seem to strange at the same time. This is marvelous, and I'm giggling at Marylin's comment.
auntietk
I imagine the wood is so swollen it will never leak! Great shot of this familiar sight. They're almost invisible, unless somebody drapes them in lights. There's a big metal tower south of here a few miles and every year they hang holiday lights all over it. I like this one better!
whaleman
We had one very large metal water tower remaining in Edmonton until perhaps 15 years ago. When my children were young, beginning with my daughter first, I explained that it was a space ship that had landed several years ago and we were still waiting for the space people to come out. I kept the story going until my son was the right age, then my daughter helped me convince him about it. We drove past it every time I took my kids to visit my sister, probably twice a month, and they were always anxious to see it again. When they were young you could see the belief and wonderment in their eyes as they thought about this strange apparition that, to them, defied any explanation other than what I provided. My son usually fell asleep whenever he rode three blocks in a car, but when he knew we were going past the 'spaceship' he would struggle mightily to stay awake until he had seen it, then he would conk out half a block later. Those were good days!
bmac62
Oh, so many reasons for water towers...particularly in big flat cities. Like your questioning why water towers now. I am amazed to see a wooden water tower in 2011! Like your speculative approach to answering the question. Fine photo...and I'd never imagined I'd see one in Chicago.
kgb224
Stunning capture Corey. This Tank remind me of some water tanks in a Army camp where i have been many years ago holding precious water for all the thirsty troops includingm in a barren landscape of the Northern Cape.
durleybeachbum
What a brilliant piece of writing!! A little gem, I enjoyed that so much!
jeanebean
Nice capture Corey. I am surprised there are still some of these old guys left in Chicago. There was a time back in the '80's when it seemed there was a concerted effort to get rid of all of them. They were there originally to supply water to the top stories of high rises. The water pressure wasn't sufficient to reach the upper floors of the taller buildings. All the cities with buildings over 2 stories had them years ago. Some were made of cypress boards about 2 inches thick. One of the artists I knew used the wood from one of the old Chicago ones to panel his bathroom. It was beautiful. Anyway they are like old monuments to a bygone era. I used to feel melancholy admiration for them standing there like dignified old men when their job is gone and everyone has forgotten how useful they once were. Anyway.. good shot and thanks making it!
flavia49
wonderful shot
Bothellite
"You can feel a lot of history underneath this water tank..." Seeing the image and then the above words... RUN! Looks like one of those old wooden barrel stave type of tanks. Nice place to brew antibodies. Cool piece.
sandra46
FANTASTIC CAPTURE, A VERY AMERICAN URBAN SCAPE, WE DON'T HAVE THEM HERE
annie5
I like this old water tower and photo also! Great find Corey :)
NefariousDrO
I really like this photo, such a rich variety of textures! Jeanebean already explained what they did so I won't go into it again, but you can find these things in alot of the older parts of cities around the US and Europe, although many cities have deemed them hazards and are trying to remove them, these days. Nice photo!
npauling
This old tank looks great against the sky and I would have thought they would have been put up to raise the water pressure in the area.
myrrhluz
Excellent image and fascinating narrative. It sent me off a 'googling and I found out that you are not alone in your interest. There is a group on Flicker solely dedicated to Chicago Water Tanks, and there is an ordinance for a 90 day delay if they are under threat of being torn down to allow options to be explored for their preservation.
danapommet
A great shot but I wouldn't be hanging around under there. Love the narrative. Dana
minos_6
History is all the reason you need to keep these things intact in my opinion. Hope they don't still hold ancient moisture though!
KatesFriend
I would not doubt that Chicago likely invested in many more water towers than most cities of its size given its fiery history. Or its strange attractor effect on wayward comets depending upon which theory for the start of the Chicago fire you prefer. I can well imagine the sound of the tank from below, the low creaks and groans of the steal as it copes with the temperature differential between the structure and the water it contained. Most water towers are gone where I live - the last vanishing in the mid-80's. Likely for the reasons you've cited, obsolescence and neglect. But I do remember them, this design seems to be a standard, though there was a larger, squatter and sleeker style that was quite common as well. Often painted in the colours and fonts of the local community. Very popular as navigation markers for small local aircraft.