The Bandera Historical Committee is set to unveil a new historical marker, celebrating the designation of the "Tin Man" in the Bandera Water Works Complex. This iconic celebration is scheduled to take place on October 26th at 11th & Cedar, starting at 3:00 pm.
The "Tin Man," aptly named due to its striking resemblance to the beloved character from "The Wizard of Oz," holds a unique place in history. According to the Bandera County Historical Commission, it is one of only six such water towers still standing in the state of Texas.
The building beneath the Tin Man water tower was constructed in 1938 when the Bandera County Control & Improvement District No. 1 was established with financial support from the New Deal's Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. Ray Carter, a member of the Bandera County Historical Commission, provided this historical context.
The iconic water tower itself was added to the complex in 1940, further solidifying its historical significance. The entire Bandera Water Works Complex received recognition as a Texas Historic Landmark in 2021, marking its place in the annals of Texas history.
The inscription on the historical marker reads, "Walter and Francis (Adamietz) Ruge created the Bandera Water Works to serve businesses and residences. Walter Trenklebach bought the franchise in 1936, extending the water main to the school and promoting modernization. In 1938, Bandera citizens voted 86 to 1 to form a municipal water district, which bought Trenklebach's company and equipment. With Federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) funding, capacity was greatly increased. The new complex included a limestone pump station and operations building, a 30-foot-diameter concrete reservoir with a 50,000-gallon capacity, and a 100-foot steel "Tin Man" water tower holding 60,000 gallons. Completed by March 1941, the improvements positioned the city for population growth and prosperity."
This historical marker unveiling promises to be a significant event in Bandera's history, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and appreciate the enduring legacy of the "Tin Man" and the Bandera Water Works Complex.
