Exploring the Abandoned Hawthorne Works Tower | Chicago May 2019

May 2019
Just west of Chicago in Cicero Illinois. Built in 1905 and abandoned since 1983.

This Castle like tower is actually a water tower (yes a water tower) that was part of Hawthorne Works which was part of Western Electric. It is the last remaining building of the Hawthorne Works in Cicero.

Hawthorne Works mainly made electronics like telephones as well as military equipment and is where the term, "the Hawthorne Effect" came from. The Hawthorne Effect is the study that when workers are being watched or monitored while working, they get more work done and are more efficient. There are other aspects that are part of the Hawthorne Effect but that's the main gist of it.

Hawthorne Works was considered a progressive company as they were among one of the first to give paid vacations and had many women workers even before world war 2.

Way better footage from my first time going up the old spiral staircase in December. Climbed to the top twice the day I did this video... 7 times total!
This was actually the first of the four videos I did this day. After this I explored an abandoned Train, an abandoned Library, and then later in the evening I explored the equally as epic Dome Church!
Best day ever of urban exploring!
Hawthorne Works Tower as well as the Dome Church (Church of Scientology) are my two favorite abandoned places.