Visible from almost any approach to the city of Kalamazoo is a
structure shrouded in mist, myth and mystery...the water tower
on the grounds of the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. The
structure dominates the skyline as it rises in medieval
splendor. Wrapped in fog or reflecting the hues of the rising or
setting sun, the tower is a cherished landmark of the city.
Constructing the Tower Toward the end of the nineteenth century,
a Detroit architect, B. F. Stratton, was commissioned to plan a
water tower that would serve the water supply and fire
protection needs of the sprawling institution that had spread
along what is now Oakland Drive. Stratton was instructed to come
up with a structure that would complement the medieval feeling
of the other buildings on the hospital grounds. Construction
began and ended in 1895 in the skilled hands of early
stonemasons and bricklayers. The result is stunning. The tower
soars 175 feet into the air, rising from a base of cut stone
blocks five feet high. The brick begins above