CORE of McLean, the nonprofit local community group in McLean, IL on Route 66, announced the transfer of ownership of the historic water tower on a September 25, 2024 Facebook post:
“We are pleased to inform you that as of September 10, 2024, CORE of McLean is officially the owner of our village’s historic water tower. It took over a year of persistent effort by our many volunteers plus a wider world of supportive individuals and organizations to make it happen, but we finally got to the finish line.
And now, to the start of the next effort!
We now have two years to restore the tower’s surface paint and complete a mural around the top of the tower. This will mean our village will have a brand new attraction in time for the centennial celebration of Historic Route 66. We are already well underway to commission both of these projects, including setting work dates and seeking grant funding to supplement our raised funds.
We are thrilled for this opportunity to not only restore and develop a new asset for the village that can be seen for miles around and which will celebrate our village’s history, but also to have helped save taxpayers at least $34,000 for the cost to remove that asset. This was not made easy for us, but in the end not only do we now own a piece of history and can give it a bright new future, but our community rallied around something that will benefit all.
While we did pay the village just $1 to make the purchase, the total cost to save the water tower for CORE of McLean was a little over $9000, which includes legal and engineering fees, a property survey, and the 60 signs that we distributed around the village to folks who supported our efforts. We are currently seeking donations to cover these costs.
If you wish to help, we would be very grateful! You can do so by going to our GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/f700fc58. We are also happy to accept checks made out to “CORE of McLean” and mailed to PO Box 294, McLean, IL 61754. We also have custom-made t-shirts, stickers, and postcards celebrating our historic water tower available for purchase at the McLean Depot during regular business hours or at any of our upcoming events. Please write us at core.mclean@gmail.com to learn more.
From the top of the tower and the bottoms of our hearts, thank you to all of you who stepped up to help us make this happen. If our community had not supported this idea, we would never have proceeded, but your energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and we are so happy to say that we got all the way there.
Thank you.
As always, feel free to take a picnic lunch to Water Tower Park and enjoy the flowers. And while you’re there start thinking about what you’d love to see painted up on that tower. You’ll have an opportunity soon to fill out a survey and tell us your ideas, and we can’t wait to read them! Keep an eye out for that soon.
Cheers to the historic water tower and the community of McLean!”
And, congrats from the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway!
