Landmarks
Railroad
In 1886 when the Chicago, Burlington and Northern Railroad extended its line from Aurora to Savanna, the early pioneers of this area...in their arduous struggles for existence would not have believed it possible that modern conveniences for town and country could come into existence in such a short span of years.
Water Tower
In 1893 the only water supply was from the wells and cisterns. The citizens formed bucket brigades passing the buckets from hand to hand up ladders and only attempted to keep fires within certain bounds.
There was an immediate and insistent demand for an adequate water system. In 1895, the water tower was built and the water mains were laid. Before this time, the water supply was a town pump just south of the hotel.
In the early days, fire alarms were given by means of a bell located in the park and the fire fighting apparatus consisted of a bucket brigade. After the installation of the water works, a manually operated hose cart was purchased. These were replaced by an electric siren and a motor-driven fire wagon.