Water Works

Water was a daily necessity for life and was seasonally limited in areas of Osceola County. Pioneers built water towers to store collected rainwater or water pumped from rivers, lakes, and streams. Some settlers used cisterns to store water, while others had access to artesian well water. The Bush family used a water tank at their Deer Park home in eastern Osceola County, the center of their cattle operations. Its construction was similar to other late 19th- and early 20th-century tanks and it may be a rare survivor of its kind. It was likely used as a domestic source of water for the home or to supply water to livestock. Water was necessary for more than survival. In the 1870s, steam power was new technology driving the economy, and steamboats, locomotives, and steam-driven equipment such as band saws needed a dependable supply of water. Hotels, hospitals, and other businesses required their own water supplies. During the dry months between December and May, farmers needed water for their homes and crops. Before electricity came to the area, these water tanks were often operated with a windmill or a hand pump.

Florida · United States