St. Marys Water Tower

In April 1899, concerned citizens asked St. Marys Town Council for a plebiscite on installing a municipal water system, and after the by-law passed three months later, Council proceeded on July 24, 1899 with the Municipal Waterworks. Council appointed Toronto civil engineer Willis Chipman, a pioneer in constructing municipal waterworks systems, whose plans called for pumping facilities, seven miles of water mains, and a 75,000 gallon water tower. Work began in September 1899, with stone work by local mason Robert Clyde and steel work by John Inglis & Son. In May 1900, the new waterworks system, including the water tower, was tested and put into service. Since then, the tower has stood as a significant landmark for the people of St. Marys and the surrounding area. In 1977, extensive restoration assisted by a grant from the Ontario Heritage Foundation was completed, and the tower has been designated a Canadian Water Landmark by the American Water Works Association for its significance in the history of public water supply.

Ontario · Canada