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Building Name
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Ypsilanti Water Tower
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Description
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The Ypsilanti Water Tower was designed by William R. Coats and constructed as a part of an elaborate city waterworks project that began in 1889. Located on the highest point in Ypsilanti, the tower was completed in 1890. It is 147 feet high and has an 85-foot base constructed of Joliet limestone. The substructure walls taper from a thickness of forty inches at the bottom to twenty-four inches at the top. The reservoir holds a 250,000 gallon steel tank. To protect themselves from injury the builders made three stone crosses; one is visible over the west door. The Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority has operated and maintained the structure since 1974. In 1975, this tower was designated by the American Water Works Association as an American Water Landmark. It was restored in 1976. Day laborers constructed this water tower which was completed in 1890 at a cost of $21,435.63. The tower and the city waterworks supplied 471 customers in the first year. An ordinance passed on April 14, 1898, established a yearly rate schedule. 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 $5.00; a private bathtub cost an extra $2.00. Saloon keepers paid $7.00 for one faucet, $3.00 for each additional faucet and $1.00 for each billiard table. Each cow a person owned cost $1.00. People who failed to pay their bill were subject to a $50.00 fine and ninety days in the county jail. Until 1956, this structure was the only water tower in the Ypsilanti water system. The Ypsilanti Water Tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Structures October 26, 1981, listed on the state register in September 1988 and a state historic marker was erected in August of 1989.
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Year Constructed
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1888
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Date Dedicated
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1890
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Building Functions
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Water Tower
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Ypsilanti Water Works Stand Pipe
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Architect
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William R. Coats
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Builder
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Day Laborers
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Original Cost
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$21,436
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Architectural Style
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Richardsonian Romanesque with Shingle Style embellishments
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Rights
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This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the owner, Eastern Michigan University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).
