Documentary History of American Water-works

Chebanse

Chebanse, Illinois

Chebanse was incorporated as a village in 1874.

The Chebanse Water Works Company was incorporated in 1874 and built a water system that began service in January, 1875. The system used a windmill to pump water from an artesian well into an elevated tank. This system was abandoned around 1906 and the village had no water service.

The village of Chebanse built a new water system at some unknown time.

Water is provided by the village of Chebanse.

References
1875 "New Water Works at Chebanse, Ill." Daily Inter Ocean, January 31, 1875, Page 5.
The Chebanse Water Works were put in successful operation to-day. An abundant supply of water is insured in the business portion of the town for both fire and other purposes.

1880 History of Iroquois County: Together with Historic Notes on the Northwest, by Hiram Williams Beckwith
Pages 337-338: The Chebanse Water Works Company was organized under the law of the state for joint-stock corporations, August 21, 1874. The certificate bears the names of Lemuel Milk, James Porch and F. T. McKee as corporators. The object was to furnish water for domestic, fire and general purposes, by a plan, so far as is known to this writer, not adopted in any other place in this artesian region. The Well was bored 120 feet deep, twenty of which was through solid rock, when artesian water was reached which rises to within twenty feet of the surface. A stone tower was erected, thirty-six feet high, which is twenty feet in diameter at the ground, and has on it a reservoir of 1,000 barrels capacity. This is surmounted by a wind-mill which pumps the water to the reservoir; from this mains are laid through streets, and from them hydrants are erected, and pipes lead into the houses. Families are charged $6 per year, and the village has paid $250 per annum for public and fire uses. This last charge has been now reduced to $100 per annum. It has proved a perfect success.

1888 "Chebanse," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.

1890 "Chebanse," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.

1891 "Chebanse," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.

1897 "Chebanse," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.

1898 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Chebanse, Iroquois And Kankakee County, Illinois. February 1898

1907 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Chebanse, Iroquois And Kankakee County, Illinois. August 1907
Sheet 1: The town has been without water for fire purposes for the past year. No water facilities. Water wks and pipes not in use.

1921 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Chebanse, Iroquois And Kankakee County, Illinois. February 1921
Sheet 1: Water Facilities. The town has been without any municipal supply of water for the last fifteen years, water works and fire hyd's have been taken out altogether. 1,250' 6" water pipe not in use.