No, Not the Mall--Like An Actual Water Tower

By Margaret Lyons in News on Nov 2, 2004 5:56PM

There's so much election-day coverage to be had, and we're doing our best to keep up—thanks, Paige Wiser, btw, for your insightful comments on Star Jones—but we thought this story was too cute to pass up.

The smiley face water tower on U.S. 51 near Makanda, Illinois will soon be sporting a bow-tie to honor the late Paul Simon. Former Senator Simon was known for his bow-ties in addition to his candor and decency, and his daughter told the AP that she thinks the tribute is "the sweetest thing in the world." Aw. The Buncome Public Water District expects the painted bow-tie to be completed next week.

Smiley face water tower with a bow-tie you say? Methinks Illinois already has one—yup, Mr. Smiley of Calumet City also dons old-skool neckwear (that's him in the picture). Probably because his lady friend Mrs. Smiley lives right across the street and, like Chicagoist, enjoys a man who can dress himself. (One in Ashley, Indiana also has a bow-tie.) Illinois appears to be home to five smiley face water towers, the most of any state ranked on what we think must be the definitive list: the two in Calumet City, the one in Makanda, plus one each in Atlanta and Watseka. Hollaaaa. Too bad the one in Markle, Indiana is clearly the coolest of all smiley face water towers. (Links to the pics themselves weren't working--click through on the list page.)