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Two historic structures in the Rock Island Arsenal National Register
District are threatened with demolition. The Stone Reservoir of 1869 was
designed to hold water in reserve for distribution to various buildings on
the island. It was modeled after an arsenal reservoir in Watertown, Mass.,
dating from 1816. The Stone Bridge was added in 1881, as part of a path
for officers traveling between their waterfront residences and the
arsenal’s industrial buildings. The bridge has drainage spouts that are
disguised by ornamental lion heads.
These two structures are listed as
contributing historic resources within the National Register District, but
they have been allowed to deteriorate as a result of improper repairs and
deferred maintenance. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently proposed
demolishing the stone reservoir and the matter is under review by the
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. The bridge continues to
deteriorate.
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