[1] In Beloit's younger days, the city's fire protection consisted of two volunteer companies with hoses and mobile pumps that drew water from the Rock River[2] and from private wells and cisterns.

[2] Beyond fire protection, a source of clean drinking water would reduce the risk of diseases like diphtheria and typhoid fever.

Originally, a tank 20 feet deep sat atop the tower, built of 3-inch cypress and holding 100,000 gallons of water.

The water-works also tried to entice homeowners to give up their private wells and switch to city water, offering free pipe to the curb for the first 100 patrons.

The water-works replaced it with a metal tank of the same size, built by the Eclipse Wind Mill Company, right in Beloit.

After demolition was given up, a Beloit Daily News article stated that the tower was "once regarded as the finest piece of masonry in the west".

[2][4] Now, the stone water tower is a visible community landmark offering excellent photo opportunities for camera buffs.