The tower was designed by William R. Coats and built as part of an elaborate city waterworks project that began in 1889. Located on the highest point in Ypsilanti, the tower was built in 1890 at a cost of $21,435.63 (equivalent to $640,356 in 2022). Today the tower is frequently joked about for its phallic shape. It has become a well-known landmark in Ypsilanti, and due to the building's shape and location, the tower is frequently used by residents as a point for providing directions for visitors and residents.
An ordinance passed on April 14, 1898, established a yearly rate schedule for residences with running water. Rates were based on the number of faucets in use, the type of business that customers operated and the livestock they owned. A residence with one tap was charged $5 and a private bathtub cost an additional $2. Saloon keepers paid $7 for one faucet, $3 for each additional faucet and $1 for each billiard table. Each cow a person owned cost $1. People who failed to pay their bill were subject to a $50 fine and 90 days in the county jail.[2]
During the construction, hoping to protect themselves from injury, the builders made at least four crosses in the stonework, one over the west door, an elaborate but difficult to find Greek Cross on the east side and two inside the water tower.[3] It was completed on February 3, 1890, at the cost of $21,368.[4]
The exterior was designed in the popular Queen Anne style of the period. Queen Anne design was less formal than other popular styles at the time; instead it experimented with different shapes particularly towers. Queen Anne buildings also often had more decoration than this structure.[6]
Bust of Demetrius Ypsilanti. Note cross in stonework over the entrance.
The stone tower is located at the highest point of elevation of the city on Summit Street. The tower is made of Joliet limestone. The tower is 147 feet (45 m) tall, has an 85-foot (26 m) base. The substructure walls taper from a thickness of 40 inches (100 cm) at the bottom to 24 inches (61 cm) at the top. The reservoir holds a 250,000-US-gallon (950,000 L) steel tank. When it was constructed it had a dual purpose. Not only did it store water but the falling water also generated electricity for the city street lamps at night.[6]
A marble bust of Demetrius Ypsilanti stands between a Greek and a U.S. flag at the base of the water tower. The city of Ypsilanti is named after this hero of Greek independence.
ypsilanti, water, tower, historic, water, tower, ypsilanti, michigan, united, states, ypsilanti, water, works, stand, pipeu, national, register, historic, placesmichigan, state, historic, siteshow, michiganshow, united, stateslocationypsilanti, michigancoordin. The Ypsilanti Water Tower is a historic water tower in Ypsilanti Michigan United States Ypsilanti Water Works Stand PipeU S National Register of Historic PlacesMichigan State Historic SiteYpsilanti Water TowerShow map of MichiganShow map of the United StatesLocationYpsilanti MichiganCoordinates42 14 44 N 83 37 29 W 42 24556 N 83 62472 W 42 24556 83 62472Built1890ArchitectWilliam R CoatsNRHP reference No 81000318 1 Added to NRHPOctober 26 1981The tower was designed by William R Coats and built as part of an elaborate city waterworks project that began in 1889 Located on the highest point in Ypsilanti the tower was built in 1890 at a cost of 21 435 63 equivalent to 640 356 in 2022 Today the tower is frequently joked about for its phallic shape It has become a well known landmark in Ypsilanti and due to the building s shape and location the tower is frequently used by residents as a point for providing directions for visitors and residents Contents 1 History 2 Structure 3 Present day 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editAn ordinance passed on April 14 1898 established a yearly rate schedule for residences with running water Rates were based on the number of faucets in use the type of business that customers operated and the livestock they owned A residence with one tap was charged 5 and a private bathtub cost an additional 2 Saloon keepers paid 7 for one faucet 3 for each additional faucet and 1 for each billiard table Each cow a person owned cost 1 People who failed to pay their bill were subject to a 50 fine and 90 days in the county jail 2 During the construction hoping to protect themselves from injury the builders made at least four crosses in the stonework one over the west door an elaborate but difficult to find Greek Cross on the east side and two inside the water tower 3 It was completed on February 3 1890 at the cost of 21 368 4 The structure was the only water tower in the Ypsilanti water system until 1956 The Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority began operating and maintaining the structure in 1974 That same year the tower was designated by the American Water Works Association as an American Water Landmark It was also designated a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the Michigan Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers In 1976 it was restored 5 Structure editThe exterior was designed in the popular Queen Anne style of the period Queen Anne design was less formal than other popular styles at the time instead it experimented with different shapes particularly towers Queen Anne buildings also often had more decoration than this structure 6 nbsp Bust of Demetrius Ypsilanti Note cross in stonework over the entrance The stone tower is located at the highest point of elevation of the city on Summit Street The tower is made of Joliet limestone The tower is 147 feet 45 m tall has an 85 foot 26 m base The substructure walls taper from a thickness of 40 inches 100 cm at the bottom to 24 inches 61 cm at the top The reservoir holds a 250 000 US gallon 950 000 L steel tank When it was constructed it had a dual purpose Not only did it store water but the falling water also generated electricity for the city street lamps at night 6 A marble bust of Demetrius Ypsilanti stands between a Greek and a U S flag at the base of the water tower The city of Ypsilanti is named after this hero of Greek independence Present day editThe tower has long been a source of humor for comedians in the Ann Arbor Ypsilanti area for its phallic shape it has been nicknamed the Brick Dick 7 8 An urban legend holds that the tower will crumble if a virgin graduates from nearby Eastern Michigan University 9 In 2003 Cabinet magazine ranked the tower as the World s Most Phallic Building 10 See also editList of towers American Water LandmarkReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service April 15 2008 Huff Aaron September 25 2011 Ypsi tower history Eastern Echo Retrieved June 13 2014 Ypsilanti Water Tower Michigan USA Building am Retrieved June 13 2014 The YCUA Stone Tower Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority Retrieved June 13 2014 Ypsilanti Water Tower 1890 Ypsilanti Historical Society Retrieved June 13 2014 a b EMU Historic Tour Eastern Michigan University Archived from the original on March 29 2012 Schonberger Nick November 12 2012 The 10 Most Ridiculous Phallic Buildings Complex Networks Archived from the original on March 7 2018 Retrieved February 7 2018 Dicker Ron June 6 2014 10 Buildings that Look like Penises PHOTOS HuffPost Danger Tatiana October 28 2014 Michigan s Ypsilanti Water Tower is the world s Most Phallic Building Roadtrippers Archived from the original on January 19 2019 Retrieved April 21 2021 The Most Phallic Building in the World Cabinet External links edit nbsp Media related to Ypsilanti Water Tower at Wikimedia Commons Ypsilanti Water Tower on LocalWiki Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ypsilanti Water Tower amp oldid 1172112391, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
