Roanoke Water Tower
Roanoke, Denton County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Built during the Great Depression, the Roanoke Water Tower was the town's primary water source. Hugh H. Jenkins, Roanoke's first Mayor, advocated for the well and water system to help the newly-incorporated community grow. In 1934, he consulidated Roanoke's water system under the city and applied for public works administration funding, which was granted and used for the tower's 1936 construction. Approximately 150 feet tall, the tower contains a 100,000 gallon capacity steel tank and stands on four steel legs. Though no longer in use, the tower was a vital part of Roanoke's growth and remains a local landmark.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Rising about 150 feet on four steel legs, the Roanoke Water Tower was built in 1936 as the newly incorporated town's primary water source. First mayor Hugh H. Jenkins championed the municipal water system, consolidating it under the city in 1934 and securing Public Works Administration funding during the Great Depression to construct the tower and its 100,000-gallon tank. Though no longer in service, it still stands as a local landmark.
Why it matters
It is a tangible legacy of New Deal public-works investment, which brought modern infrastructure to small American towns during the Depression.
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Related people
- · Hugh H. Jenkins
Themes & tags
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