Can you imagine Orland Park without its water tower? Its story is more interesting than you might think. Public services here date back to the late 19th century. The village installed a public water supply in 1897. Around 1905, gasoline lighting replaced kerosene street lights. Back then, the population was just under 370.
Almost 10 years later, Orland Park was unique. It was the only town southwest of Chicago with its own water system. It also had cement sidewalks and street lights. Early village staff included just one police officer. Besides police duties, this officer lit street lights and started the water pumps. Even in the 1960s, police officers still started the water pumps.
According to the Orland Fire Protection District, a wooden water system and elevated water tower were erected in 1892. This guaranteed a good water supply. But, the late Orland Park Village Treasurer Franklin Loebe remembered a big event. Loebe recalled when the water tower behind the village hall fell in 1916. He was 10 years old. He was playing nearby when it happened. He and a friend ran to see the water running down Beacon Avenue. The water settled in John Humphrey’s yard.
Loebe said it was a big happening in a small town. The tower was then replaced. A tank on the ground connected to an air compressor took its place. Though Loebe wasn’t officially a firefighter until 1929, he began pulling the hose cart in 1926.
In the late 1920s, the fire bell was in the village hall and fire station on Beacon Avenue. Loebe and Fire Chief Jack Hellenhouse raced to fires in Loebe’s pick up truck. Everyone in town helped. They sat on the open tailgate pulling the hose cart. Firefighters got a dollar per call to clean their trousers.
In 1969, voters approved the Orland Fire Protection District. It became a separate taxing body from Orland Park.
Later there were discussions about the design of a water tower. In coming weeks, you could see a plain white water tower with Orland Park on it. This was to save money. The mayor suggested painting the village’s name on two sides. Some board members were confused. A decorative option was nixed. It was meant as goodwill to business owners who felt overlooked. That design with a brick wall and prairie grass added costs.
Trustee Kathleen Fenton said business owners felt forgotten. Vacant properties and maintenance were issues. The design was meant to show the village cared. In the end, the board voted for the plain white design. Sandblasting was included. This extends the tower’s life by at least 25 years.
So, as you look at the Orland Park Water Tower, remember its history. It reflects the growth and changes in this community. From early water systems to modern debates. This tower stands as a symbol of Orland Park’s story.