From the US National Register Nomination Form on file with the Texas Historical Commission: (
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"The Cotulla Downtown Historic District includes 33 total resources in central Cotulla, Texas. Within the district
are railroad tracks, brick 1-part and 2-part commercial buildings facing the railroad tracks on Front Street, the
Art Deco La Salle County Courthouse, the town plaza, and several additional historic commercial buildings with
high level of integrity. The district is approximately 17 acres in area and lies roughly between Kerr and Market
Streets, and Tilden and Carrizo Streets. Its boundary is slightly irregular in order to include the highest
concentration of historic resources. Of the 33 total resources, 21 are considered contributing. Of the eleven
noncontributing resources, seven date to the historic period of 1881 to 1952 but have poor integrity; the
remaining three postdate the period of significance.
. . .
Cotulla Water Works (Resource 26)
1915
Contributing Structure
The Cotulla Water Works is located at the southeast corner of South (Center) Street and Kerr Street. The Water
Works is a flat grassy lot that contains several historic resources relating to the city’s water pumping and
storage. At the northwest corner of the lot is a circa 1915 metal water tower with a bullet- or cone-shaped tank.
Its four tall legs are metal trusses braced by tension wires. Just south of the tower is the reservoir, also built in
circa 1915. Its convex concrete cap is above ground. Near these two resources is the third associated historic
resource, the pump house. This small building is built of red brick and has a flat roof with a low parapet wall.
A wide doorway on the west elevation opens toward the reservoir and water tower. The door has been removed.
Two window openings flank the doorway, one of which is a 2/2 double hung window in poor condition, the
other of which has been removed and blocked in with plywood. Doors and windows on the other elevations
have also been removed. The building has decorative brickwork that includes brick pilasters at the building
corners and a corbelled frieze above the windows and doors that is comprised of both header and soldier
courses. A concrete panel at parapet level of the front elevation once read “COTULLA WATER WORKS,” but
is now faded. In c.1960, an above-ground concrete water tank was added to the site."