St. Charles Water Tower (Gone)
St Charles, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The St. Charles Water Tower was one of those classic cone-bottom water towers that once dotted towns across the Midwest. Rising above the village on its lattice steel legs, it served as both a vital piece of infrastructure and a familiar part of the local skyline. 01-09

By the time this photo was taken in 2009, towers like this were already becoming a rarity as communities replaced them with modern water systems. The old St. Charles tower was eventually retired and dismantled, bringing an end to a landmark that had watched over the village for decades.

There's something nostalgic about these older cone-bottom towers. Their distinctive shape made them easy to recognize from miles away, and they were often the first sign that you were approaching another small Midwestern town.

UPDATE: The old St. Charles water tower has since been demolished and replaced by newer municipal infrastructure. While the tower is gone, photos like this help preserve a piece of the town's history. 07-26

Beecher Water Tower
Flint, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The Beecher Water Tower has been a familiar landmark on the north side of Flint for generations. Although many people associate it with Flint, the tower actually serves the Beecher Metropolitan District and proudly displays the name "BEECHER" across its side. 07-09

Beyond supplying water to the surrounding community, the tower has also witnessed an important chapter in Michigan history. It stood through the devastating Beecher Tornado of 1953, one of the deadliest tornadoes ever to strike the state, and became a recognizable landmark in the aftermath of the storm.

Today, the tower remains part of the Beecher skyline and continues to serve the community. It's a reminder that even ordinary pieces of infrastructure can become lasting landmarks with stories of their own.

UPDATE: The Beecher Water Tower is still standing and remains an active part of the Beecher Metropolitan District's water system. 07-26

Divco Water Tower
Warren, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The Divco Water Tower is a reminder of the days when southeastern Michigan was filled with factories building vehicles that kept America moving. Rising above the old Divco plant in Warren, the faded tower still carries the company's name, recalling an era when Divco delivery trucks were a familiar sight in neighborhoods across the country. 07-09

The factory opened in 1938 and became known for producing Divco's distinctive milk trucks and delivery vans. Although truck production ended decades ago, the sprawling industrial complex has survived and continues to be used by other businesses.

Time has certainly taken its toll on the old tower. The faded lettering gives it plenty of character and makes it an interesting reminder of Michigan's manufacturing heritage.

UPDATE: The former Divco factory remains standing, but I'm not sure if the old Divco water tower still survives today. 07-26

Smiley Face Water Tower
Calumet, IL
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here you see the Smiley Face water tower in Calumet, IL, a bit faded and in need of a fresh paint job. This is the first time I saw this one up close but it was the first one I ever took a photo of when I photographed it out the car window way back in 1977. It was as far as I know the very first Smiley face Water tower ever. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 11-09

The story began in 1972 when 8-year-old Kim Fornero suggested painting a giant smiley face on the town's water tower. City officials loved the idea, and by 1973 the first bright yellow smiling tower was welcoming visitors. A second tower soon followed, and together they became known as "Mr. and Mrs. Smiley."

Over the years, the towers have become some of the Midwest's most recognizable pieces of roadside Americana. One of the pair was repainted pink in 2013 to promote breast cancer awareness, while the original smiley continues to brighten the skyline.

UPDATE: Both smiley face water towers are still standing today, although their appearance has changed over the years with new paint and restoration projects. 07-26

Alis-Chalmers Water Tower (Gone)
St Charles, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The Allis-Chalmers Water Tower paid tribute to one of America's best-known manufacturers of farm and industrial equipment. With the familiar Allis-Chalmers name painted across its side, the tower served as a reminder of a company whose bright orange tractors and machinery were once a common sight across the country. 11-09

While this wasn't a traditional municipal water tower, it was an iconic piece of industrial Americana. Towers like this often became landmarks in their own right, standing above factory buildings and proudly displaying the names of the companies they served.

Unfortunately, the factory and its water tower have since disappeared as the site was redeveloped. Today, the tower survives only in photographs like this one, preserving a small piece of Allis-Chalmers history.

UPDATE: The Allis-Chalmers water tower has been removed along with the former industrial complex. 07-26