#151: World's Largest Catsup Bottle

Claims to be the 'largest catsup bottle' in the world. Unless there's some little known place in, say, Germany, Russia or some small place in Pennsylvania, then the city of Collinsville can claim the bragging rights.

I'm amazed that not a lot of St. Louisans (well, the Missourians) knew about this gem. Most of you know I have lived in Glen Carbon all my life and for us Glen-Ed people who travel down Hwy. 159 to go to Fairview Heights, this was a no-miss. Over the years it was like the tiles on the wall, it was just there. But the bottle has been getting lots of attention lately. I remember 3 years ago I logged onto MSN to check my e-mail and there was a picture of the catsup bottle on MSN's homepage. I was like, 'Wha....?'. As you are leaving downtown Collinsville on Hwy. 159, you'll see it creeping up in the trees.

• Constructed in 1949 as a water tower for the now-defunct Brooks Catsup Company. Brooks Foods would later re-locate to Mount Summit, Indiana in the late -1970s. 
• As the bottle faded within time, several volunteers gathered to raise money and restore the bottle in 1995. 
• The 'new' bottle is modeled after an original 1949 Brooks Catsup bottle.
• Nearly 170 feet tall; the bottle itself is 70 ft. 
• The city of Collinsville has been hosting its own 'Catsup Bottle Festival' every year since 1997 (first year was known as 'Catsup Bottle Appreciation Day'), at different places.

The cake, which has (sort-of) a Route 66 theme, but the logo is not seen on here. I've heard people say this cake spotlights all the special places and landmarks that once graced that highway:

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Left side of the cake

From the bottom of the tower

*UPDATE*  7/22/2014
-Apparently the Catsup Bottle is up for sale. This happens two weeks after the Catsup Bottle festivities. It's yours for 500 grand. (source: Riverfront Times)

World's Largest Catsup Bottle on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

800 S. Morrison Ave., COLLINSVILLE, IL, 62234
Cake artist: Julie Krovicka

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#128: Compton Hill Water Tower

One of three historic standpipe water towers in St. Louis still left standing....the others are at Bissell and Grand Avenue. There are actually seven of those kind still standing in the United States alone. One of them being in Chicago, off of Michigan Avenue. But enough about Chicago. Read on:

• Stands 179 feet tall
• 198 iron steps lead to the top of the tower from the bottom!
• The tower was designed by Harvey Ellis, who was known for working on the Head House at St. Louis Union Station, as well as City Hall. 
• In 1929, the water tower ended its service. In later years it would be opened to the public for tours until 1984 (due to safety reasons).
• In 1998, a $19 million project for renovating the tower took place, and the place was alive again, welcoming visitors who wanted to see a great 360 degree view of St. Louis.

A view from the Interstate 44 exit

Entry way into the tower

Three weeks after I visited the tower, I took in the opportunity to go up in the tower, as it has limited tours. It was a humid July evening, but at the top of the tower, it was a cool breeze I tell you!

Just a peek to the south....

Highway 44 and that chunk of skyline in the back is Clayton

And I couldn't leave out the Anheuser-Busch buildings

The thing accompanying the tower. And don't forget the St. Louis skyline in the back!

A view of the central part of the city (the road is Grand)

And I can't leave out the 'Naked Truth' sculpture, which is located at the Compton Hill Reservoir Park. It has always been controversial, because of its frontal nudity view, and its got some history attached to it. Short version of the story: In 1914, a guy from Berlin named Wilhelm Wandschneider was a well-known sculptor who won the contest (mostly funded by Adolphus Busch) for a statue honoring German journalists in not just St. Louis but America. Officials were not amazed by the jury's winner selection, but by the time Wandschneider came to St. Louis to claim his prize money, it was too late. It was crafted in bronze to minimize the nudity.

And, interestingly enough, someone with my surname (Voigt), was one of the board of directors, rubbing shoulders with the Busch family. My name is not-so common around here, so I'm not sure if I'm related to this guy or not....

The Naked Truth statue

A historical marking about the Naked Truth statue

Here are the sides of the cake, that were painted by Genevieve Esson: (the cake was placed above ground)

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Compton Hill Water Tower Park & Preservation Society on FB
Wikipedia link

1900 South Grand Boulevard, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63104
Cake artist: Genevieve Esson

#109: Grand Avenue Water Tower

In the way northern part of the city lies the oldest water tower standing in St. Louis. The Grand Avenue water tower was built by architect George Barnett in 1871. It had quite a short life as it was used for fighting fires and providing water supply. There was a 5 feet standpipe as well as spiral staircase inside the tower; those have both been removed. In 1912, the tower was decommissioned. After that time, the tower was used by putting beacons on top of the tower as navigational aids for Lambert airport. Legend has it that Charles Lindbergh found the tower very useful as he was trying to land in foggy weather. The tower has been saved numerous times from demolition. It wasn't until 1998 that the tower was lit with floodlights and restored.

Also called the 'Old White' Water Tower. This is only one of seven historic standpipe water towers left in the United States. Three of them are in St. Louis: Grand Avenue, Bissell and the Compton Hill.

And now, the tower...

Top of the cake

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Close look at the bottom of the tower

Advice for getting the cake: this one was quite a challenge as well as a safety issue. Around the water tower is a turnabout and it is hard to tell where cars are going to turn. I strongly suggest using caution when getting this cake. The cake is right on the road in front of a fence, so...hope for careful drivers! I parked at Dollar General, which wasn't far.

Wikipedia link


2001 East Grand, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63107
Cake artist: Gina Harmon