20 Jul a closer look at st louis’s compton hill standpipe water tower (1898) designed by harvey ellis
photographic survey (a work in progress) of the romanesque style compton hill standpipe water tower designed by architect harvey ellis in 1898.
the compton hill water tower (1898), is the earliest of three extant stand pipe-water towers located in st. louis. the 179-foot water tower was built to conceal a 6-foot diameter 130-foot tall iron standpipe. standpipes were designed to control dangerous surges in city pipes caused by reciprocating pumps and maintain even water pressure. the water tower was designed by harvey ellis who also designed the headhouse for st. louis union station and washington terrace gate house.
