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Monumental News: Historic Landmark Gets Facelift

Category: Preservation

Published Date

Written by Randy Garbin

World's Largest Catsup Bottle celebrates 60th birthday with a new paint job!

Work begins today to repaint the World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Illinois. The world-famous Brooks catsup bottle water tower last received a fresh coat of paint 14 years ago. A nation-wide "Paint It" campaign by the Catsup Bottle Preservation Group raised the necessary funds to save the landmark from possible demolition and have it restored it to its original appearance. Judy DeMoisy, known as the Catsup Bottle Lady, created the preservation group in 1993, and has again coordinated the effort to get the job done. "We've been working behind the scenes for a while now," she said. "All the pieces came together late last week and it's time to get it done." One of the pieces is painter Rod Reinneck. His company, Diversified Coatings of O'Fallon, Illinois, handled the restoration of the catsup bottle in 1995. He has been contracted to do it again.

"This is an exciting, once in a lifetime opportunity," Reinneck said. "And we get to do it twice."

Unlike with the previous restoration, this time there is no need for a massive volunteer fundraising effort.

"The catsup bottle is actually owned by Bethel-Eckert Enterprises, not the city as a lot of people think," DeMoisy said. "Thanks to the generosity of Bethel-Eckert, the project is under way. We can't thank them enough for taking care of this." Public Relations Director, Mike Gassmann, the Big Tomato, reminds everyone to follow the project online. "Our web site is www.catsupbottle.com," Gassmann said. "We have a complete archive of the history, all the festivals, the media appearances, everything ever having to do with the catsup bottle." Photos and reports will be posted to the blog so fans around the world can follow the progress.