Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The northeast skyline of Springfield is changing due to The Pillsbury Project reaching yet another demolition milestone. The AB-Mill Water tower has officially been torn down.
According to Moving Pillsbury Forward, workers cut the legs and dropped the tower on it’s roof on November 25. Within one day after cutting the legs, the water tower was cabled and rolled over the edge safely.
The AB-Mill water tower had been in place since 1929 when the mill was initially built. It served to provide water and head pressure for the flour milling process, as well as the fire sprinkler system. The top of the tower stood at an elevation of 210 feet above street level. It was an iconic fixture of the Springfield skyline for 96 years. Now, the tower has been erased from view.
The group in charge of The Pillsbury Project, Moving Pillsbury Forward, says they will try to salvage the top ball from the water tower and keep it as a memorial piece representing the manufacturing history of Pillsbury in Springfield. The ball they want to save for the memorial presumably came down with the tower and still needs to be located at this time.
Demolition of the remaining structures at the former Pillsbury site will continue for the next several months. All structures, including the Headhouse and Silos, are anticipated to be down by the end of March 2026
The Pillsbury Project’s volunteers and workers stated that an estimated 95 percent of the bulk materials from all structures will be recycled. Including 650 tons of brick from the site, which have already been stacked and recycled. Many fixtures from the site have also been harvested for re-use.
