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February 10, 2021
Water tower slated for historic landmark designation
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi Goode
The Bandera Prophet
The Bandera Water Tower is on track to become a county historic landmark. With the blessing of the City of Bandera, the Bandera County Historical Commission plans to seek a formal Landmark Designation for the iconic tower from the Texas Historical Commission.
Known as a Tin Man Water Tower because of its resemblance to the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, the Bandera tower is one of six remaining in Texas, according to Rebecca Norton, of the Bandera County Historical Commission.
“At one time, these preengineered water towers could be found throughout the state, but they have slowly been replaced by newer designs,” Norton wrote.
The building beneath the tower was built in 1938, when the Bandera County Control & Improvement District No. 1 was created with funding from the New Deal project of the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, according to Ray Carter, of the Bandera County Historical Commission. The water tower was added later in 1940.
“The buildings are hand hewn limestone,” Carter told the Prophet.
In order to receive the designation, the commission needs the city’s permission to pursue the designation, as well as access to the building and any records that may exist, Norton said.
“It’s important the work done to preserve the water tower as an historic landmark is done before this historic site is threatened,” Norton wrote.
Known as a Tin Man Water Tower because of its resemblance to the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, the Bandera tower is one of six remaining in Texas, according to Rebecca Norton, of the Bandera County Historical Commission.
“At one time, these preengineered water towers could be found throughout the state, but they have slowly been replaced by newer designs,” Norton wrote.
The building beneath the tower was built in 1938, when the Bandera County Control & Improvement District No. 1 was created with funding from the New Deal project of the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, according to Ray Carter, of the Bandera County Historical Commission. The water tower was added later in 1940.
“The buildings are hand hewn limestone,” Carter told the Prophet.
In order to receive the designation, the commission needs the city’s permission to pursue the designation, as well as access to the building and any records that may exist, Norton said.
“It’s important the work done to preserve the water tower as an historic landmark is done before this historic site is threatened,” Norton wrote.