Staff writer
The smaller of Hillsboro’s two water towers is one of six new listings added to the National Register of Historic Places in Kansas, according to the Kansas Historical Society.
“This is very exciting for us because it opens up a mass of additional opportunities for financing if we need it for repairs or upkeep in the future,” Mayor Delores Dalke said.
Dalke credited Morgan Marler, head of the Hillsboro City Water Department for her work in making this award happen.
“She was responsible for filling out a long questionnaire and submitting information proving we did, indeed, have a historical landmark here.”
History of the tower dates to its construction in 1927, when it was built as part of Hillsboro’s first water and sewer system.
In 1912, when the city established its fire department, the water system consisted of wells and cisterns with a capacity of 11,000 gallons.
Without adequate water pressure, all the equipment and firefighters in the world proved futile against inevitable infernos — and a dependably clean water supply would have been impossible.
Hillsboro’s citizens voted in favor of a bond issue in 1926 and a comprehensive water project was completed in 1927. The 75,000-gallon steel-plated water tower was nominated for its local significance in the area of community planning and development.
The National Register recognizes properties of local, statewide, and national significance.