Artesia News

Artesia Watertower - Call for Historical Information


The Artesia Water Tower, the familiar inactive water storage tank located on Clarkdale Avenue just south of 183rd Street, has been a familiar site for citizens of Artesia for many years.

However, little is known of its active past or when it was actually constructed. In an attempt to declare the Tower a Historical Landmark the City is asking citizens who may have information to share about its past, or have dated pictures of the tower to come forward.

The Tower, which can store up to 50,000 gallons of water, was once owned by the Southern California Water Company, and was sold to the City of Artesia as an inactive water storage facility in 1988. The tower was purchased by the City to be used only as a point of historical interest, and to provide a special identity to the community. When the City of Artesia purchased the tower, the then green tower was quickly painted to its current color with the addition of the name Artesia painted on two sides.

Although the site was the actual site of an artesian well in 1911, no records can be found of when the existing tower was actually built. It also may have been the site of a smaller wood structure water tower. To qualify for historic designation through the State of California, factual documentation must be presented.

The City is asking for anyone who may recall their earliest memories, or have dated pictures of the tower to call Andrew Perry at Artesia City Hall at (562) 865-6262.

Here are some historical photos of the Artesia Water Tower, obtained as the result of this call for information.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

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