08/28/2026
How did a home on Fort Myers Beach get fresh water in 1906?
For the Case family, the answer was a rainwater cistern.
Located just outside their 249-square-foot Tudor-style kitchen, the 12-by-12-foot cistern could hold approximately 3,200 gallons of water. Rainwater collected from the kitchen roof was directed into the cistern and accessed through a hand pump for everyday needs like cooking, drinking, and cleaning.
The original cistern was demolished in the 1950s, but its story didn’t disappear. During the restoration of the Mound House, a reproduction cistern was constructed in 2006 on the same spot where the original once stood.
In this reel, you’ll see a historic 1906 photograph of Milia Case beside the original cistern, along with photographs documenting the construction of the reproduction cistern in 2006 — exactly 100 years later.
Today, visitors can see the reproduction cistern and stand in the same place where the Case family collected their water more than a century ago.
Stop by the Mound House and discover more pieces of early island life for yourself.
Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Visit Fort Myers
