“What’s that looming over Oak Street?” I overheard a visitor ask just yesterday. That is the historic Roanoke Water Tower. Today we are standing at the base of this iconic structure before the Roanoke Water Tower Plaque.
The Roanoke Water Tower has been a local landmark since 1936. It is a reminder of how much the community has grown. In the early 1900s, Roanoke was a typical western town. It was established by the railroad. The town served as a major shipping point for Denton County’s cattle ranches.
Hugh W. Jenkins arrived in Roanoke in 1904. He noticed the windmill-powered wooden well in the middle of Oak Street. This water system had been in place since about 1885. It was used by businesses and residences.
In the early 1930s, Roanoke’s population grew to 400. Oak Street became lined with businesses and homes. Community leaders decided Roanoke needed a permanent city government. Jenkins was elected as the first mayor of Roanoke in November 1933.
Mayor Jenkins and the citizens of Roanoke decided to modernize the water system. Jenkins applied for a loan from the Public Works Administration. Construction began on Roanoke Water Tower.
The new water system was finished in 1936. It included a 150-foot-tall water tower. It was not far from where the original wooden well once stood. The water tower was built with a 100000-gallon capacity elevated steel tank. It had a pump jack, electric motor and small pump station. It has four steel legs with steel lattice in between each one. There are two sets of braces between the legs and a standpipe. The standpipe extends in the middle to the bottom of the steel tank. There is a fire siren on the northwest corner leg.
Besides its vital role, climbing the water tower became a source of entertainment for Roanoke’s young people. One boy gave his friends a scare when he slid off the side. Luckily, he stopped himself before falling.
The Roanoke Water Tower is one of two federally funded Depression era projects in Roanoke. The other was a school but it was torn down. The water tower also serves as a benchmark for the United States Geological Survey.
Once vital to the city, the Roanoke Water Tower became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 2010. The Texas Historical Marker plaque sits at the base. It commemorates its origins and history.
Take a moment to appreciate this landmark. The Roanoke Water Tower Plaque symbolizes Roanoke’s journey. A journey from a small western town to the vibrant city. It is a lasting testament to the community’s spirit.