STANDPIPE ONCE PROVIDED ALBION WATER PRESSURE

In Crowell Park sits our water tower in its "really needs-to-be-repainted" condition. This tower provides Albion with the good water pressure needed for our water supply needs across town. Before our water tower was erected in 1961, however, Albion’s water pressure was provided by a 134-foot high "standpipe" which stood just north of today’s water tower.

The standpipe was erected in 1889 in the northeast part of the park, and had a diameter of 12 feet. 1889 was the year that Albion instituted a municipal water system. Back then the city water supply came from pumps at the Cass St. pumping station located in the brick building which later became the Albion Recycling Center in the 1970s. The location of Crowell Park (then known as Washington Park) was chosen for the standpipe because it had the highest elevation in the city. This provided a water pressure of 80 pounds to the square inch. With Albion booming in the 1950s and water usage at an all-time high, the standpipe water pressure was insufficient and thus our present-day water tower was erected.

The configuration of the standpipe was not the most sanitary. It had a somewhat open top, and youth would occasionally scale the tower ladder and clandestinely swim in the water. In addition, an occasional bird would sometimes die in the water. Its body would sink into the Albion water supply, and be sucked into the water system where it would be stopped by a filter at some location. In the early 20th century a decorative garden was maintained around the standpipe

Following the completion of our present-day water tower, the old standpipe was toppled on February 26, 1962 after a half day’s work.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present a 1910 postcard showing the entire standpipe. The caption reads "Water Tower Park." Notice the location of the steps leading to N. Superior St. and the standpipe. How many of our readers remember the standpipe in Crowell Park?

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
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