Forney waterworks storage tank and pump house, located on the block bounded by Aimee, Buffalo, N. Bois d'Arc and N. Elm streets, about 1912. It was not until 1930 that the elevated tank was painted steel-gray and lettered "Forney."

Boring the new artisan well, 1909. The drill reached 2,035 feet when the water started gushing out. For good measure, they drilled another 30 or 40 feet afterwards!

Forney's artisan well, spouting 1,500 gallons per hour, 1909.

The water tower, as it looks today. Click on the image to see a larger view.

A terrible drought and heatwave with temperatures reaching as high as 115 degrees in 1909 forced the town of Forney to build its own water supply system instead of depending on lakes, rivers and out-of-town sources. Local businessmen raised about $9,000 for the project. It took three months and over 2,000 feet of drilling for water to finally start gushing from the drilling hole.

Drilling started on August 25, 1909 and finally ended on November 29, 1909 when the steaming water spouted from the 40-foot-high pipe at a rate of 1,500 gallons per hour. On that day, news spread fast all over Forney and there was a huge party that lasted all night. "...many Forneyites who usually went to bed with the chickens were up until daylight the next morning to see the cows come home."