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The Kansas Historical Society is looking for water towers.
"It's an informal survey," said Amanda Loughlin, survey coordinator for the society. "Water towers are important to small communities — they usually have the town name painted on them, sometimes with a clever twist — and, because of their height, they serve as landmarks," Loughlin said in a phone interview Tuesday.
The purpose of the survey is to raise public awareness of the unique structures that provide water storage and delivery around the state. In some cases, local groups may wish to preserve their towers, and the survey could be the first step in listing the historic resource on the National Register of Historic Places.
"These structures have been built in so many shapes and sizes," Loughlin said, "And they often demonstrate the plains sense of humor with labels like '99.9 pure' or 'Hot' and 'Cold.'"
Currently, four water towers in the state have been listed: the 1927 Hillsboro water tower, the Florence water tower built in the mid-1880s, the 1913 Highland water tower, and the 1938 WPA water tower in Paradise in Russell County.
Three additional water-related structures are listed: a water tank related to the railroad in Beaumont and town wells in Seneca and Greensburg.
The society hopes to photograph the structures on the list and find basic histories of each one.
Towns or individuals wishing to participate in the survey can contact Loughlin at (785) 272-8681 ext. 257 or send an email to survey@kshs.org.
The Kansas Historical Society is looking for water towers.
"It's an informal survey," said Amanda Loughlin, survey coordinator for the society. "Water towers are important to small communities — they usually have the town name painted on them, sometimes with a clever twist — and, because of their height, they serve as landmarks," Loughlin said in a phone interview Tuesday.
The purpose of the survey is to raise public awareness of the unique structures that provide water storage and delivery around the state. In some cases, local groups may wish to preserve their towers, and the survey could be the first step in listing the historic resource on the National Register of Historic Places.
"These structures have been built in so many shapes and sizes," Loughlin said, "And they often demonstrate the plains sense of humor with labels like '99.9 pure' or 'Hot' and 'Cold.'"
Currently, four water towers in the state have been listed: the 1927 Hillsboro water tower, the Florence water tower built in the mid-1880s, the 1913 Highland water tower, and the 1938 WPA water tower in Paradise in Russell County.
Three additional water-related structures are listed: a water tank related to the railroad in Beaumont and town wells in Seneca and Greensburg.
The society hopes to photograph the structures on the list and find basic histories of each one.
Towns or individuals wishing to participate in the survey can contact Loughlin at (785) 272-8681 ext. 257 or send an email to survey@kshs.org.
