  Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 988 Registered: 01-2007 |
While driving my daughter to school this morning, I remarked to her how nice the rose color sunrise shone off the water tower at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. She asked about this landmark tower, and while I could give her some cursory knowledge of water towers in general, I had to admit I new little of this one. I did search the archives here, and a Google search as well, and could come up with little more then mentions or photos. I know I may be carpet bombed with links and sneers, but I still would like to gather a knowledge and history for this tower, and perhaps some help with how they work and distribute water. | ||
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 5301 Registered: 02-2007 |
interesting question. the Zoo folks have to have a historian of some kind. I would give a call to the zoological society | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 990 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanks, Rb336. That would be a logical starting place, as I was unaware of such a Historian. Any others care to share? | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 11733 Registered: 12-2003 |
Great question, I had to laugh at the first thing I thought...how some haters would have to read Kwame's name on it for a while longer... | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 1298 Registered: 11-2003 |
The Zoo water tower has been unused for over two decades (except as a landmark, of course). The exact year of discontinued use is given in a book about the Zoo that came out relatively recently. I know that water towers for factories and such often aren't needed as much today because high-powered pumps are used. But the water still has to be pumped into the tower anyway. Apparently traditionally, it was done by pumps that do a slower job than modern ones, and wouldn't be useful for immediate delivery of a LOT of water to where it's needed (which is what the gravity-powered tower does). | ||
Nainrouge Member Username: Nainrouge Post Number: 889 Registered: 05-2006 |
Basically a water tower helps maintain a constant water pressure using gravity: http://people.howstuffworks.co m/water.htm Why would anyone bomb you with sneers for asking about a water tower? | ||
Bigb23 Member Username: Bigb23 Post Number: 601 Registered: 11-2007 |
Obviously He/she knows about Craigd and Ccbats. (Message edited by Bigb23 on February 28, 2008) | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5365 Registered: 10-2003 |
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Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 991 Registered: 01-2007 |
Bigb23 is right on. I sometimes tread lightly here as I have seen numerous pile-ons when forumers simply don’t look up oft repeated (and tiresome) questions. Thanks for the above Burnsie, I did not the tower was a derelict. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 7202 Registered: 11-2004 |
I've never understood why public officials get to plaster their names all over these projects (regardless if it's Kwame). Isn't it one huge billboard for name recognition in essence?? I find it such a huge waste of money every time a new person steps into that role and the name needs to be changed. I thought this for years even before seeing Kwame's name on the water tower. I remember seeing Richard Austin's name associated with the Secretary of State for what seems like forever. I'm so thankful now that they've removed the name and let the title of the office speak for itself. I'm hoping the Zoo tower will be the same one day and be rid of any subtle references to its elected officials. As far as the artwork on the tower now, it sure as heck beats the old artwork any day! I still remember the huge gaudy multicolored letters on it that one couldn't read easily because they were so huge; one would read "DETROI" or "OIT ZOO" because the letters wrapped around it so badly. Anyone have any pictures of the tower in any of its previous incarnations?? | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1989 Registered: 04-2005 |
 wsu/vmc | ||
Rel Member Username: Rel Post Number: 263 Registered: 02-2008 |
I found a pic of that same tower but it was too large a file to post here... it was dated 1929. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 993 Registered: 01-2007 |
I agree with you Smogboy. The name perk must be on the books somewhere; because this surly is nothing more then self promotion. I would be very interested to find out more on this aspect. As always, Johnlodge and Hornwrecker bring us splendid photos that show the tower in its current and past paint schemes. It would be cool to see a chronological photo study from new till now. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 1301 Registered: 11-2003 |
Smogboy-- Remember, after Candice Miller took over, for a while the signs had her name in bigger letters than what Austin had. There was one more pre-fancy color paint scheme for the tower after what is pictured above-- it just said DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL PARK in a big box, with no "ROYAL OAK." It can be glimpsed in a 1985 photo in the book "Detroit Images." In the pic above, it's interesting how "ROYAL OAK" is in much bigger letters than "DETROIT." Even long ago, there must have been controversy about how much weight to give to each city's name with regards to promoting the zoo. | ||
Chris_rohn Member Username: Chris_rohn Post Number: 411 Registered: 04-2005 |
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Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 3617 Registered: 06-2004 |
That's because the water tower originally belonged to Royal Oak. I believe the city gave it to the zoo when the zoo redesigned some years ago. Preservationists wanted to save the tower but the city didn't want the liability and hassle that went with it. Once the zoo got the tower the really fancy paint schemes started. (Message edited by lilpup on February 28, 2008) | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 4666 Registered: 12-2005 |
It's probably impractical but I've always wondered whether unused water towers could be converted to generate alternative energy. Remove the top and let it accumulate natural precipitation then let the draining water drive generator turbines. Skyscraper rainwater drainage systems might be used in the same way. Hydroelectric dams are essentially the same thing on a much larger scale. Like I said, it's probably impractical. I've never heard it discussed. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5376 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: Though the Zoo hasn't bothered spending the money to actually paint over the Mayor's name yet, I suspect it won't make it up there much longer. Considering the recent changes in funding, and also some other things I won't really go into (but the photo I posted is a clue) I suspect the Mayor's name tradition is nearing its end. | ||
Rel Member Username: Rel Post Number: 268 Registered: 02-2008 |
Jimaz, Maybe it could be put to use as a storage facility for the load of crap about to hit the fan for the Mayor. How is that for an alternate use? ;) | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 292 Registered: 12-2007 |
^^^ Does it have something to do with the lack of an elephant painted on the water tower? | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 995 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanks for clarifications to Burnsies' assumption Lilpup. There must have been a committee in place when the paint schemes were to change due to a new mayor, or just maintenance . In all these years it could have been painted a dozen times or so. Jimaz, I see shades of "Petticoat Junction" here. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 4034 Registered: 10-2003 |
It's probably impractical but I've always wondered whether unused water towers could be converted to generate alternative energy. Remove the top and let it accumulate natural precipitation..." How about just converting it to a giant, elevated swimming pool for the kiddies? | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 996 Registered: 01-2007 |
Damn Johnlodge! I didn't see that. The mayor’s name is gone! Vandals’ or voters? LOL. Thanks, pal. | ||
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 5311 Registered: 02-2007 |
"How about just converting it to a giant, elevated swimming pool for the kiddies?" Help! Petticoat Junction flashback! | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 997 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanks for the above photo, Chris_rohn. Got any from up on top of the tower, looking out? | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5377 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: Neither, Photoshop. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 999 Registered: 01-2007 |
I give a tip of the hat to you, Johnlodge. Very clever indeed! | ||
Living_in_the_d Member Username: Living_in_the_d Post Number: 93 Registered: 01-2008 |
Yeah, Cool tower, very cool. | ||
Nainrouge Member Username: Nainrouge Post Number: 897 Registered: 05-2006 |
How about changing the sides to glass and put some fish in it? Hippo pool? World's largest bird bath? | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 11365 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: Goes for every office whether it be mayor, governor, etc in nearly every city. Why print names on it when there is just going to be a lot of waste everytime there is a change in position. |
