#ThursdayDoors — Water Towers

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Wikipedia

Welcome, all.  It’s no big surprise that summertime temperatures in the high desert southwest are once again “higher than normal.”  The lack of rain made me think of the quirky-looking water tower in my town. Then I had the idea, “What about a Thursday Doors post with water tower doors?”

But wait… do they have doors?  Well, at least they have some kind of hatch, and that’s basically a door.  So, I’m going with the water towers.  Here’s an article about How Water Towers Work.

I hoped to use only photos that had at least an indication of the door/hatch. However, the whimsy of this one was irresistible.

Photograph from backlot tour at Disney Hollywood Studios 2008 showing Earffel Tower and a topiary version, now both removed to make way for Toy Story land.

The next one caught my eye because of those wonderful arched windows and crenelated top. According to Wikipedia, the Waldo water tower, officially called the Frank T. Riley Memorial, is a white, castle-like tower in the Waldo neighborhood of south Kansas City, Missouri, United States.  It came into use in 1920 through 1957, and is an early example of reinforced concrete.  However, it also has a bit of a creepy history.  In August 1962, the remains of a man who had been missing nearly a year were discovered in the bottom of the tower. To retrieve the body, a hole was created near the bottom of the tower.

Waldo water tower Kansas City, MO. Nick Graves 2010, Wikipedia

I was determined to show one with a door, so I give you the Volunteer Park Water Tower in Seattle, WA. It has an observation deck at the top.  Built in 1910, the tower was situated in a park.  You can find more photos of it — both outside at different angles, and inside at this link to a search I did at Wikimedia Commons.

Volunteer Park Seattle Water Tower 1910, Wikipedia

Here’s just one more, simply because it is so charming. This is a water tower that was once used to fill steam locomotives on the now defunct Galesburg and Great Eastern Railroad in Knox County, Illinois USA.

Galesburg and Great Eastern Railroad Water Tower, Wikimedia
Galesburg and Great Eastern Railroad Water Tower, Wikimedia

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No doubt some of you have been inundated by rain.  However, these water-related thoughts were refreshing for me.  I hope you enjoyed them too.  Thanks to all of you for opening this door.  Hugs!

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Of course, here’s the obligatory shameless self-promotion.

The Delta Pearl Duology

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Universal Purchase Links

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Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. It’s hosted by Dan Antion.  Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).

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Copyright © 2024 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

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66 thoughts on “#ThursdayDoors — Water Towers”

  3. If nothing else, you taught me that we have a very cool old water tower here in Seattle. I didn’t know that! I checked where it is and have been around that park many times over the years when we were coming up here to see our youngest when she went to University of Washington. Fast forward 12+ years and now we live up here. Great post…..

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    1. I hope you’re enjoying life in Seattle, Kirt. I tried to find out how current the information was on that one, and I think it was published a couple of years ago. It also sounded like the general neighborhood was being revitalized. Hopefully the tower is still there. Have a great week. Hugs.

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  4. I like the Kansas City one. My dad grew up in KC… the city has a lot of architectural gems… for example, the Moorish architecture of the buildings on the plaza and also the Liberty Memorial (WWI memorial erected in the 1920s), among others.

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  6. The Earffel Tower??? That’s as good as a door any day! Your idea of water towers was a good one; I had no idea water towers could have such personality! Thanks, Teagan!

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    1. They do at that, don’t they. There’s just something quirky about the way most of them look, no matter the style. Except of course the ones made into beautiful towers — but those are splendid, rather than quirky. Thanks for opening this door. Hugs.

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  9. Fabulous structures, Teagan. Who knew there could be so much history in water towers?

    I adoor the one with the door.

    Yes, the summer heat domes have returned, and it’s still spring. It’s too hot here already, as well. However, it’s humid by the lake. With the steel and cement and humidity, we have a sauna bath.

    Fun doors post, Teagan, thank you! Hugs!

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  10. As I can see many rooftops from my apartment windows, I am surrounded by water towers. This is a really interesting group you put together. They always have a sci-fi vibe to me, as if they could launch into space at any moment. (K)

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  11. This was a wonderful doors post, Teagan. I love water towers, and you’re right, they all have a door/hatch in them. I also love it when places (like the ones you’ve showcased) do something to make a utilitarian structure into something interesting. The last one made me think of Petticoat Junction 😊

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  12. What a clever idea. I especially like the last one. It made me think of the opening of Petticoat Junction where the girls are swimming in the water tower by the railway track. 💖😁

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  13. I loved this post, Teagan – second time around. A wonderful collection of water towers. So many childhood memories came back to me of when my family traveled through the mid west. To me, water towers represents community identity, resilience, and a sense of security. These towering structures not only provide a vital resource for residents but also serve as landmarks that reflect the history and values of the local area. I believe that water towers symbolize preparedness and sustainability, highlighting the importance of infrastructure and resource management.

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  14. Quite a unique post! I dread anyone using the water from the water tower that had the dead man in it for a years. UGH! I’ve often wondered what exactly they are used for or if they are every used.

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    1. Ya know! At least that one was not being used for water at the time. In that particular case, the building had some kind of historic designation. One would hope they find some kind of use for them, but frankly, I doubt it. Although there are a few being renovated into houses. See Pete’s comment below. He left a really cool link. Thanks for reading and commenting, Noelle. Hugs.

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  17. I will have to check if our water towers down the road have doors. It is refreshing to think of them. I’m holding out for just one more rain storm, before the dry sets in for the next few months. But right now hot for us too. Hugs xo

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    1. During my “real-world” career, I always had to come up with workarounds for things I needed to accomplish because of one lack or another (software, budget, etc.) Since I can’t get out to photograph doors (which is the original intention of Thursday Doors — Dan is just wonderfully flexible about it), I was struggling for what I could post. Then I just suddenly thought of the water towers… Thanks for opening this door. Hugs.

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  21. Great post. I love the water towers. We had a water tank on the pump house when I was growing up. Our own personal water tower. Although, I never thought of it as a tower because my dad had a 75 foot tall ham radio tower next to the pump house.

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    1. Awesome. No, awesome times two! My dad would have envied the radio tower. As a truck driver, he loved his radio. It kept him company and entertainment for long drives, plus safety, back when hardly anyone had a “car phone.” Thanks for opening this door. Hugs.

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    1. It’s nice to see you, Pete. Wow, that’s going to be a wonderful home when it’s finished. I very much enjoy looking at industrial buildings that have been converted to unique homes. Many thanks for the link. Have a wonderful rest of the week. Hugs.

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    1. I had not thought about it until last night when the hot day inspired this post. It stands to reason though — there has to be an access point for maintenance. It’s cool that at the turn of the previous century they added to the structures to make them observation points as features in parks, like the one in Seattle. Thanks for opening this door. Hugs.

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    1. It’s good to see you, Fraggle. That one is a beauty. I imagine the postcard was doctored back when it was produced, to bring out the people standing in the observation windows. LOL, but to me they look like ghosts! Terrific whimsy. Thanks for opening this door. Hugs.

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  29. I love water towers. A lovely post. We need rain here as well, Teagan, although the situation has improved because April and May was a bit wetter than usual. I remember some similar structures (although for a different use) Martello towers, in the UK. Some have been converted into homes, but you can imagine how complicated it can be to design the furniture and the interior with that shape. I am sure living in a water tower would be interesting as well… Thanks for the lovely images and for making us think outside the (square) box!

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    1. Hi, Olga. Thanks for mentioning Martello towers — I was not familiar with them. It must be fascinating to see them. I’m so drawn to round shapes, I would love to live in a converted water tower or Martello tower. (My knees would hate the steps but…) Thanks for opening this door. Hugs!

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