800 South Morrison Avenue
Collinsville, Illinois
The structure, trademarked "The World's Largest Catsup Bottle", is a water tower south of downtown Collinsville, Illinois on IL-159. There are claims that it is the largest catsup bottle in the world. A long time Collinsville business, the G.S. Suppiger Company, produced the Brooks brand of catsup and condiments. In 1949 a water tower was needed for plant operations and to supply water to the new fire protection sprinkler. The president of the company, Gerhart S. Suppiger, is credited with the suggestion that the water tower be designed to resemble one of the company's catsup bottles. The W.E. Caldwell Company was contracted to build the water tower.
In 1993, the owners of the Brooks plant, Curtice-Burns, Inc., prepared to sell the property. The company offered the water tower to the city of Collinsville. The city declined the purchase due to the high projected cost of repairs and restoration. Over the course of two years the volunteer Catsup Bottle Preservation Group raised $80,000 to repair, strip, and paint the aging structure and restore it to its original appearance. Recognized the world over as an excellent example of 20th century roadside Americana, the World's Largest Catsup Bottle regularly garners national attention and attracts visitors and tourists every day. In August of 2002 it was named to the National Register of Historic Places.
Visiting The World's Largest Catsup Bottle
The World's Largest Catsup Bottle can be seen at any time
There is no charge to visit the World's Largest Catsup Bottle.
World's Largest Catsup Bottle Official Web Site and Fan Club - a great site about World's Largest Catsup Bottle
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