A demolition permit was issued by the City of Chicago on April 18 of this year to remove the single-story commercial building at 3625 North Halsted Street in Lake View. The building is the former home of Phoenix Electric Manufacturing Company, and to be honest, it isn’t the type of building anyone is likely to miss. Except for one thing, it’s most outstanding feature.

Atop the rear portion of the L-shaped building stood one of Chicago’s few remaining water tanks. A cool, long-legged blue one. So long are those legs that it might make you think it was a free-standing tank in the parking lot. But no, it’s a rooftop tank. Or was.

The entire front portion of the L of the building has been reduced to rubble. The rear portion will be gone soon as well, but the tank atop it is already history, the steel support structure a cruel reminder that I got here too late. Maybe someone disassembled it and put it back together piece-by-piece in their office. Maybe someone from National Wrecking Company. They’re the demolition contractor on this one. I’ve always wanted to do that, put a rooftop tank *in* my office. I’ve also always wanted a big office. But I digress.

All of this to say, we’ve lost one more Chicago Water Tank. Pour one out. Que sera sera. We’ll miss you, Blue Halsted Tank.