Historic Mount Gilead WPA Water Tower
Mt Gilead, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The old Historic Mount Gilead WPA Water Tower once stood as one of the town's most recognizable landmarks. For generations it watched over this small Montgomery County community, standing beside the newer water tower that eventually took over its job. 01-08
Built during the Works Progress Administration era, the tower represented an important step in bringing a modern public water system to Mount Gilead. By the time this photo was taken, it had become a familiar piece of the town's skyline, but changing infrastructure and maintenance concerns would soon seal its fate. Although many residents hoped to see it preserved, the historic tower was eventually taken down.
UPDATE: The WPA-era water tower was demolished in June 2018 despite local preservation efforts. Today only photographs like this remain to remember one of Mount Gilead's longtime landmarks. 08-26
Historic Town of Lilesville Water Tower
Lilesville, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The Historic Town of Lilesville Water Tower catches your attention with its bright metallic finish, making it stand out against the sky above this quiet Anson County town. It's one of those classic small-town landmarks that's easy to spot long before you reach downtown. 01-08
Standing on its steel framework near Town Hall, the tower has served the community for decades while becoming a familiar part of the local skyline. Its unpainted, silvery appearance gives it a different look than many older municipal towers, adding a little extra character to an already timeless design. For travelers who enjoy photographing vintage water towers, this is another nice example of the classic style that once defined towns across North Carolina.
UPDATE: The historic Lilesville water tower remains standing today and continues to serve the community as both a working utility and a familiar hometown landmark. 08-26
Gaffney Water Tower
Gaffney, SC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
This Gaffney water tower has a noticeably wide, rounded shape that makes it stand out from the taller, skinnier towers found in many small towns. It may not be as famous as the nearby Peachoid, but it's an interesting roadside sight in its own right. 01-08
Standing above the surrounding neighborhood, this old municipal tower has quietly served the community for years while becoming part of Gaffney's everyday skyline. Its stout design gives it plenty of character, and it's a nice reminder that even ordinary water towers can have their own unique personality. Roadside fans who look beyond the Peachoid will find there's more than one interesting tower to photograph in Gaffney.
UPDATE: This classic Gaffney water tower remains standing today, continuing to serve the community while sharing the skyline with the city's more famous peach-shaped neighbor. 08-26
City of Hamlet Water Tower
Hamlet, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
One of the first things that stands out about Hamlet is that it has not one, but two classic steel water towers standing side by side. It's an unusual sight and one that has become a familiar part of the skyline in this historic railroad town. 01-08
The matching towers have watched over Hamlet for decades, serving the community while overlooking the rail lines that earned the town its nickname as the "Hub of the Seaboard." Painted with the simple "HAMLET" lettering, they remain a reminder of the era when these towering steel structures were a source of civic pride for communities across North Carolina. Seeing two nearly identical towers together makes this one of the more distinctive water tower scenes in the state.
UPDATE: Both historic Hamlet water towers remain standing today and continue to serve the community after restoration work, preserving one of North Carolina's most unusual pairs of municipal water towers. 08-26
Historic City of Dillon Water Tower
Dillon, SC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
This old Historic City of Dillon Water Tower has watched over downtown Dillon for generations. Standing beside the railroad tracks, it's one of those classic steel towers that has become part of the town's skyline and a familiar sight for anyone passing through. 01-08
The tower continues to serve the City of Dillon while reminding visitors of the railroad heritage that helped the community grow. With its simple "DILLON" lettering, it's easy to spot from around downtown, where it rises above the surrounding buildings much as it has for decades. Trains still pass nearby, making the tower feel right at home alongside the railroad that played such an important role in the town's history. It's a simple landmark, but one that's become just as much a part of Dillon as the tracks themselves.
UPDATE: The historic Dillon water tower still stands and remains an active part of the city's skyline, continuing to serve the community while overlooking the railroad that helped put Dillon on the map. 08-26
SOB Water Tower
Dillon, SC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
You can spot this one from miles away. Topped with an oversized sombrero, the South of the Border water tower has been luring travelers off Interstate 95 for generations and remains one of the Southeast's most recognizable roadside landmarks. 01-08
Standing nearly 200 feet tall, the giant tower was built as both an observation deck and a towering advertisement for the famous roadside attraction. An elevator carries visitors to the top for sweeping views across the Carolinas, while the bright yellow tank with its bold "SOB" lettering has become a familiar sight to millions of motorists traveling the East Coast. Whether you stop or simply drive by, it's one of those landmarks that's impossible to forget.
UPDATE: The Sombrero Tower remains open and continues to welcome visitors. Although parts of the South of the Border property have recently been offered for redevelopment, the tower and the attraction's best-known landmarks remain the heart of this legendary roadside stop. 08-26
Winthrop University Water Tower
Rockhill, SC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
You don't see many water towers dressed in school colors. This colorful Winthrop University Water Tower proudly displays the Eagles logo and has become a familiar landmark overlooking the Rock Hill campus. 02-08
Built in the 1960s, the tower supplies water for the university while also serving as a symbol of school pride. In 1999 it received its maroon and gold paint scheme along with the Winthrop Eagles graphics, transforming a plain utility structure into one of the campus's most recognizable sights. Whether you're arriving for a baseball game, visiting the campus, or simply passing through Rock Hill, it's hard to miss this colorful tower rising above the trees. It's a nice example of how even a simple piece of infrastructure can become a local landmark.
UPDATE: The Winthrop water tower continues to serve the campus and remains one of the university's most recognizable landmarks, proudly wearing the Eagles colors more than 25 years after its colorful makeover. 08-26
Historic Thomasville Municipal Water Tower
Thomasville, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here is the Historic Thomasville Municipal Water Tower. It is just about as big and solidly built as they come and loaded with rivets and a spiral staircase going up the middle to boot. You can not miss this thing driving through Thomasville aka "chair city". It is about a block away from the giant Thomasville chair that sits in a park in the center of town. It may not be as large as the massive one in Charlotte, but it is impressive in scale none the less. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 02-08
Built in 1935, the 150-foot tower holds one million gallons of water and continues to serve the city's water system today. Its riveted steel tank, towering framework, and spiral staircase give it the timeless look of an old municipal water tower that's become increasingly rare. Located just a short walk from the famous Big Chair, it's another reminder of Thomasville's rich history and enduring character.
UPDATE: The historic Thomasville water tower continues to serve the city and remains one of downtown's best-known landmarks, standing proudly over Chair City nearly 90 years after it was built. 08-26
Historic Mount Gilead WPA Water Tower
Gaffney Water Tower
City of Hamlet Water Tower
Historic City of Dillon Water Tower
SOB Water Tower
Winthrop University Water Tower
Historic Thomasville Municipal Water Tower
