In December 1972, a young resident, Miss Kim Fornero, wrote to Mayor Robert C. Stefaniak and the City Council stating that she could see the water tower from her house and thought it would look cute with a smiley face on it.

The City Council approved her suggestion, and the painting of the tower was completed in July 1973. It is a bright yellow with one smiley face on the east side and another on the west side.

Calumet City now has two towers "Mr. & Mrs. Smiley" which were constructed by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company.

"Smiley" serves as a progressive community project and a daily reminder to smile.