14 Oct Giant Catsup Bottle, Collinsville, Illinois
The Giant Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, a masterpiece of engineering, was originally built in 1949 as a water tower by W.E.Caldwell Company for the G.S. Suppiger catsup bottling plant. At that time they were bottling Brooks Old Original Rich & Tangy Catsup. It’s a bit of a detour away from Route 66, located on Route 159 south of Collinsville, but oh so worth the trip! I found out online that a group called the “Catsup Bottle Preservation Group” saved the tower from demolition in 1995 and helped in the restoration of this roadside icon. Bravo catsup lovers of Illinois!
We had to separate ourselves from the motorcycle pack the day we took this delightful detour, as they went on to the famed Chain of Rocks Bridge. Most of the folks in our group thought we were crazy, but I’ll never regret documenting this wonderful piece of Americana.
By the way, do you say “catsup” or “ketchup”?
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