City Water Tower

On April 10, 1913, the City of Rupert completed this second deep well, one block north of the town square, to supply the water needs of the rapidly growing city. The 8-inch well extended 102 feet to bedrock, with 45 feet of water at 105 feet depth.

The riveted steel structure — 35 ft. × 35 ft. × 140 feet high — was built by the DesMoines Iron Bridge Company for $3,000, with Fairbanks-Morse pumps costing $1,548. The 42,000-gallon circular tank featured a half-sphere bottom and a conical roof. In 1913, the work of wiring the water tower for lights on top was begun, funded by local businesses, with electricity costs covered by the city.

A notable incident occurred in 1987 when the southwest leg was completely severed by a vandal's bomb. Despite rapid drainage, the three-legged structure remained standing and was quickly repaired, and chain-link fencing was subsequently added for protection. The tower is recognized as a contributing component of Rupert's Historic District.