There's something to be said for America's early laborers-- those who planted crops, cleared land and built businesses, houses and cities with their bare hands and a lot of creativity. There were no tractors, bulldozers, cranes or heavy duty trucks-- simply good old blood, sweat, tears and a frustration which fueled and flamed the determination of dreamers and thinkers who wished for a better life for their families-- who believed in the American Dream. Madison County's early dreamers worked hard to see their families thrive and communities grow. The buildings, landmarks and structures that still stand after many years all come with a story-- stories of days gone by and people who remain only a name in a history book. However, their legacy lives on through their handiwork and the efforts of Treasures of Madison County, the Madison County Geneological Society and others who work hard to keep their stories alive. The Madison County Courthouse was constructed from 1912-1914, following the destruction by fire of its predecessor building in 1912. Records and books dating back to 1831 were, fortunately, saved.
The area in which the Courthouse sits has been the seat of government for Madison County since the 1830's. Next to the historical building, one will find a tall standpipe (water tower) which is no longer in use. However, it's story is alive and well. The standpipe was built in 1894 as part of the first public water supply for the City of Madison. The story of its construction is fascinating, as it was built in the time before cranes and heavy machinery. City leaders and workers had to calculate and strategize how they would build the, back then, massive structure. The building was assembled in place, ring by ring, using a floating raft on the completed sections which were filled with water.vΩhe raft would float to the top as water filled the container, hoisting the rings upward. It was, essentially, floating scaffolding. Upon completion, the raft was disassembled and lowered to the ground with ropes. The structure is 100 feet tall and held 133,00 gallons of water. Though no longer in use, it is one of only two standpipes still in existence in Florida. The standpipe has remained in its current location for over one hundred years. It is an example of the work of those who built the foundations of Madison County-- by hand, from the depths of their imagination.
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1. Photo Courtesy of State Archives of Florida. The Madison County Courthouse c. 1896, before it burned down and was replaced by the present structure in 1912. Madison's constitutional officers sit in front.
2. Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo By Savannah Reams, July 20, 2015 The standpipe which was part of Madison's first public water supply. Though no longer in use, it remains a piece of Madisonian history.