watertower

The Shaniko water system was built
in 1900 at a cost od $20,000. A
cement reservoir south of town
was built and still holds 120,000
gallons. The water works station in
the draw pumped water up to the
tower that held two 10,000 gallon
wooden tanks. The gravity flow
system then fed into each
household and business. The
Townsite Company sold the water
works to the City of Shaniko in
1913 for $3000.

Today, the water tower is only a
shell. The reservoirs are no longer
in the top and the oak lines interior
is gone: stripped by vandals. The
outer walls continue to show the toll
time takes on buildings of the past.
The sturdy construction has seen
to its survival to this day. Efforts
were officially launched in April
2000 by the City of Shaniko to
preserve its most unique wooden
building. It is one of a handful of
wooden water towers in the country
left standing.