The water tower and pump house were built in 1899 after concerns were raised in Oregon about fire protection and water supply. 
The pump house is a two-room, brick, utilitarian structure which once contained a water pump and gasoline engine that ran the pump.
The water tower is a 100 feet (30 m) tall and has four steel trestle legs supporting a water tank. Origionally, the tank was made of wood and in 1921, the wooden tank on the tower was replaced with a metal one. The photo to the left, from around 1920, 
shows the original wooden tank. The water tower is described as a “classic tin man” style. The nickname for the water tower today is still The Tin Man. The water tower was drained and removed from service in 1981.
The pump house and water tower were designated cultural landmarks by the village board and in 2007 both were listed on the state and national registers of historic places.
After many years of disuse, the Village restored the pump house and water tower in June 2017 and the pump house currently serves as the 14 S. Artists Gallery.
Buy a commemorative Tin Man ornament from the General Store!