The North Point Water Tower has been a part of Milwaukee since 1873. While the water tower has never changed, the area around it has. Initially commissioned to provide clean water to the local residents became a local landmark as the city grew. This area that once had few residents became one of the more popular cultural areas of the city. In 1963 the water tower was decommissioned as an active mater tower but was kept for its architectural beauty. Since then the water tower has become a cultural icon and a center of the community.
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The outside appearance of the tower hasn’t changed, its place in society has. In its early state it used to be a living piece of architecture, but is now an icon architecture. Similarly the area around water tower has changed as well.
When the tower was constructed, the area was sparsely populated. The immediate area was a grassing pasture for cows and other livestock. In the decades since, the area grew so now where the first lonely house stood (photograph above) now sits a relatively new multi million dollar hospital. The local residents is a mixture of college students, young professionals and families while the majority of residents are recent college graduates. The area have various businesses, bars, restaurants, night clubs and movies theaters that supply entertainment to residents and visitors of the area. |
Project 1
The 175 foot Victorian Gothic North Point Water Tower sits on
an 80 foot bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. It was constructed
out of limestone and cream city brick from Wauwatosa in
1873. Enclosed is an iron pipe which served the residents and
factories in the city with cheap pure water. The tower ran off of
steam engines up until 1963 when modern equipment such as
the electric engines were installed around the local area. The
tower was then cut off from suppling water to its many citizens
that it served for many years.
It still stands there today because of its beautiful design and
location acting as an end cap to North Avenue. Once where
cows grazed with a single house to be seen near by now stands
a multimillion dollar hospital recently built. The tower itself now
sits in the middle of a roundabout for drivers to view from all
angles as they are coming to or from the lakefront or from the
hoping North Avenue. During the summer time you can see
many people walking by and taking pictures of the architecture
and taking in all the history that can be read on the site. Due to
the rise of 175 feet the tower can also be seen in the background
of many pictures taken all over the city.
With the great history of the tower many people have paid their
tribute to it. There is now a restaurant at the bottom of the bluff
called North Point Custard. This small shop pays tribute to the
tower by having costumers take in the scenery eating outside
on a warm day looking up the bluff and seeing the tower. In
1965 an addition was added to the site suggested by Anne
Schropefer to have the tower lit up so it can act as a light
beacon for the city. A year later Michael Cudahy a neighbor to
the tower gave the city a donation to build a fountain next to
the tower bringing more people to the site to view and eat on a
nice summer day. Art work has also been done to this historical
landmark. In the summer of 1985 Terese Agnew installed a
green dragon sculpture that weighed 350 pounds. The 30-foot
long dragon was put up 65 feet off the ground!
The building is closed now sadly to the general public because
of the old structure not being very supportive anymore, but
during Doors Open Milwaukee the public can walk in and
enjoy the architecture that once housed water for thousands
of people. Although it is closed off, it still contributes to the
everyday life of the residents today as being an iconic symbol
of Milwaukee’s history.
an 80 foot bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. It was constructed
out of limestone and cream city brick from Wauwatosa in
1873. Enclosed is an iron pipe which served the residents and
factories in the city with cheap pure water. The tower ran off of
steam engines up until 1963 when modern equipment such as
the electric engines were installed around the local area. The
tower was then cut off from suppling water to its many citizens
that it served for many years.
It still stands there today because of its beautiful design and
location acting as an end cap to North Avenue. Once where
cows grazed with a single house to be seen near by now stands
a multimillion dollar hospital recently built. The tower itself now
sits in the middle of a roundabout for drivers to view from all
angles as they are coming to or from the lakefront or from the
hoping North Avenue. During the summer time you can see
many people walking by and taking pictures of the architecture
and taking in all the history that can be read on the site. Due to
the rise of 175 feet the tower can also be seen in the background
of many pictures taken all over the city.
With the great history of the tower many people have paid their
tribute to it. There is now a restaurant at the bottom of the bluff
called North Point Custard. This small shop pays tribute to the
tower by having costumers take in the scenery eating outside
on a warm day looking up the bluff and seeing the tower. In
1965 an addition was added to the site suggested by Anne
Schropefer to have the tower lit up so it can act as a light
beacon for the city. A year later Michael Cudahy a neighbor to
the tower gave the city a donation to build a fountain next to
the tower bringing more people to the site to view and eat on a
nice summer day. Art work has also been done to this historical
landmark. In the summer of 1985 Terese Agnew installed a
green dragon sculpture that weighed 350 pounds. The 30-foot
long dragon was put up 65 feet off the ground!
The building is closed now sadly to the general public because
of the old structure not being very supportive anymore, but
during Doors Open Milwaukee the public can walk in and
enjoy the architecture that once housed water for thousands
of people. Although it is closed off, it still contributes to the
everyday life of the residents today as being an iconic symbol
of Milwaukee’s history.
Project 2
North Avenue is a hub for a variety of social interaction. There is such a diverse group of built and unbuilt environments and the
North Point Water Tower acts as an anchor at the end of North Avenue and the threshold towards Bradford Beach. This point acts
as the barrier between the city pace and relaxation of the Lake Michigan. North Avenue includes an assortment of businesses,
housing, and public city buildings. Some of the public city buildings include the library, the St. Mary’s Hospital, and churches,
and the Oriental Theatre. Majority of the surrounding blocks of the North Point Water Tower consist of restaurants and groceries,
together, taking up over half of the buildings on the street. Some of the most popular places comprise of Ian’s Pizza, the Yo Factory,
Whole Foods, Potbelly’s, Collectivo Coffee Shop, Chubby’s (at the corner of North Avenue and Oakland Avenue), and a plentiful
number of bars. Also, there is the North Point ice cream shop located next to the Bradford Beach.
There is also a lot of housing around the North Point Water Tower. This includes apartment housing, dorm apartments, and family
homes. This sets up a wide variety of demographics, from the younger generation living in the apartments to the older generation
and their families spread throughout the blocks between the end of North Avenue and the beach. Looking at the map of the density
of families around the North Point Water Tower there is a clear distinction of the density of people living in apartment style living
compared to the family homes near the St. Mary’s Hospital. The age demographics also reflected the apartment living of the
younger generation compared to the number of older generations were living in the nearby blocks. The average age of the blocks
around the North Point Water Tower are dominantly 20-29 years of age even though the homes outnumber the housing units.
In the end, North Avenue is made up of a melting pot of businesses and different demographics. The water tower serves as a
familiar point on North Avenue for people taking runs, their commutes, days at the beach, or nights at the bars. The North Point
Water Tower is a landmark that means very different things to all of the residents and visitors that come to this area.
Figure
North Point Water Tower acts as an anchor at the end of North Avenue and the threshold towards Bradford Beach. This point acts
as the barrier between the city pace and relaxation of the Lake Michigan. North Avenue includes an assortment of businesses,
housing, and public city buildings. Some of the public city buildings include the library, the St. Mary’s Hospital, and churches,
and the Oriental Theatre. Majority of the surrounding blocks of the North Point Water Tower consist of restaurants and groceries,
together, taking up over half of the buildings on the street. Some of the most popular places comprise of Ian’s Pizza, the Yo Factory,
Whole Foods, Potbelly’s, Collectivo Coffee Shop, Chubby’s (at the corner of North Avenue and Oakland Avenue), and a plentiful
number of bars. Also, there is the North Point ice cream shop located next to the Bradford Beach.
There is also a lot of housing around the North Point Water Tower. This includes apartment housing, dorm apartments, and family
homes. This sets up a wide variety of demographics, from the younger generation living in the apartments to the older generation
and their families spread throughout the blocks between the end of North Avenue and the beach. Looking at the map of the density
of families around the North Point Water Tower there is a clear distinction of the density of people living in apartment style living
compared to the family homes near the St. Mary’s Hospital. The age demographics also reflected the apartment living of the
younger generation compared to the number of older generations were living in the nearby blocks. The average age of the blocks
around the North Point Water Tower are dominantly 20-29 years of age even though the homes outnumber the housing units.
In the end, North Avenue is made up of a melting pot of businesses and different demographics. The water tower serves as a
familiar point on North Avenue for people taking runs, their commutes, days at the beach, or nights at the bars. The North Point
Water Tower is a landmark that means very different things to all of the residents and visitors that come to this area.
Figure
Project 3
NARRATIVE:
For our interviews, we wanted to compare how the area
has changed and then how that effected the meaning of the
North Point Water tower over time. We have found out that
in its earlier state the tower was operational and had a direct
impact on the community, not just nearby, but also around all
of Milwaukee. Even though people from far away appreciated
the tower’s amenities, the only direct viewers were the farmers
around the water tower. Today the demographics has changed
drastically. We interviewed the younger generation that uses
the area more because of the businesses that have moved in
around the water tower. The first person we interviewed uses
North Avenue mainly during the day/ weekdays. She goes to
work, and also takes advantage of the commercial businesses
and wide arrangement of the restaurants down the street. The
second person that we interviewed mainly visits the site at night
or on the weekends. He uses it as central bar area that is nearby
his home, and then passes through the water tower and the
grassy block to get to the beach on nice days in the summer.
In both interviews, the people use it as a guideline and an icon
in Milwaukee; and it is also a center for a wide assembly of
social interactions, including, work, shopping, eating, meeting,
and play. The North Point Water Tower has changed from being
used extensively for its purpose, but seen by few, to seen by
many and not used for its original purpose.
SUMMARY:
In our findings, we have correlated information about the end
of the North Avenue, by the North Point Water Tower. The
population and traffic is radically different between the rural
times and today’s urban city. We found this through our study
of human tracing around the site. Comparing to the farms
that used to inhabit the site, there are many new traces of
society. There are now a variety of buildings that were built
around it showing the city populating denser around the site.
On a smaller scale, there are traces of people that are passing
through. There are the streets that circle around the tower, and
then the sidewalks that follow along the streets, for pedestrians.
There are higher concentrations of people throughout the day,
and also garbage and other things left behind by us, around
the streets/sidewalks and the water fountain. There wasn’t
sightings of people by the water tower, but there was garbage,
like empty beer cans, that suggests there is more action around
the tower at night. We have found, through our interviews,
which the population that interacts with the site area, frequently
know about the North Point Water Tower, but don’t know about
its history of a functioning water tower for the city. In the end,
just as the society changes, so does the meaning and use of
the water tower. It reflects our lack of dependence on traditional
way of things and the lack of understanding the history and
stories about our neighborhoods.
For our interviews, we wanted to compare how the area
has changed and then how that effected the meaning of the
North Point Water tower over time. We have found out that
in its earlier state the tower was operational and had a direct
impact on the community, not just nearby, but also around all
of Milwaukee. Even though people from far away appreciated
the tower’s amenities, the only direct viewers were the farmers
around the water tower. Today the demographics has changed
drastically. We interviewed the younger generation that uses
the area more because of the businesses that have moved in
around the water tower. The first person we interviewed uses
North Avenue mainly during the day/ weekdays. She goes to
work, and also takes advantage of the commercial businesses
and wide arrangement of the restaurants down the street. The
second person that we interviewed mainly visits the site at night
or on the weekends. He uses it as central bar area that is nearby
his home, and then passes through the water tower and the
grassy block to get to the beach on nice days in the summer.
In both interviews, the people use it as a guideline and an icon
in Milwaukee; and it is also a center for a wide assembly of
social interactions, including, work, shopping, eating, meeting,
and play. The North Point Water Tower has changed from being
used extensively for its purpose, but seen by few, to seen by
many and not used for its original purpose.
SUMMARY:
In our findings, we have correlated information about the end
of the North Avenue, by the North Point Water Tower. The
population and traffic is radically different between the rural
times and today’s urban city. We found this through our study
of human tracing around the site. Comparing to the farms
that used to inhabit the site, there are many new traces of
society. There are now a variety of buildings that were built
around it showing the city populating denser around the site.
On a smaller scale, there are traces of people that are passing
through. There are the streets that circle around the tower, and
then the sidewalks that follow along the streets, for pedestrians.
There are higher concentrations of people throughout the day,
and also garbage and other things left behind by us, around
the streets/sidewalks and the water fountain. There wasn’t
sightings of people by the water tower, but there was garbage,
like empty beer cans, that suggests there is more action around
the tower at night. We have found, through our interviews,
which the population that interacts with the site area, frequently
know about the North Point Water Tower, but don’t know about
its history of a functioning water tower for the city. In the end,
just as the society changes, so does the meaning and use of
the water tower. It reflects our lack of dependence on traditional
way of things and the lack of understanding the history and
stories about our neighborhoods.
Project 4
The North Point Water Tower Ellie Lange, Reuben Rieder, Kelsey Dettmann
The North Point Water Tower has been a part of Milwaukee since 1875. It has been an unchanging piece of architecture in the area, while it has drastically changed around the site. The tower’s initial function, when it was built, was to distribute clean water from Lake Michigan to the Milwaukee County. There used to be but a single farm nearby, but now is a central hub area for the city. When it used to be just the farm, the only people that would see the tower directly was the family that lived by the site and the cows that grazed around it, but now a vast amount of humans roam the area.
The 175 foot Victorian Gothic water tower was built to help provide clean water to the city. The area started to grow residentially. Nicer homes began to develop around the tower, near the lake, because the closer you were to the area the cleaner the water was that you got. As the development of the area progressed further away from the lake the total income of homes went down. Today, we can notice the nicer family homes that overlook the lake still exist and further back are the apartment living homes. The families that lived closer to the lake not only got cleaner water, but also had a better view of the lake and that’s why the living spaces were cheaper the further away from the end of North Avenue.
Today the North Avenue is an area that brings many demographics together, including families (living closer the lake), college students, and the working class (living in the apartments and dorms). It has a variety of businesses, restaurants, shopping, bars, the beach, and also the hospital. The site around the North Point Water Tower is a central hub now, where there is high traffic from people every day. Even though more people move around the water tower today, less people actually know about its history. When it used to be used for clean water more people knew about it in Milwaukee County because it was a symbol of clean water, but not everyone could see it who benefited from it. Today there is high traffic everyday around the water tower, but people don’t know its history. Also, the water tower isn’t operable anymore, so its function today is merely a piece of Milwaukee history.
The outside appearance of the tower hasn’t changed, its place in society has. In its early state it used to be a living piece of architecture, but is now an icon architecture. More people appreciated the tower and what it provided when it was distributing clean water to the county. Today it is one of Milwaukee’s historical landmarks, but majority of the demographic that lives around this side of the city don’t know about its old use. It is a symbol in Milwaukee that has not changed visually, but its place in the community has; when there was less population more people used it as a commodity and knew what its purpose was, but even with a denser population around the area now there are less people that know about how the North Point Water Tower has impacted Milwaukee’s history and development.
The North Point Water Tower has been a part of Milwaukee since 1875. It has been an unchanging piece of architecture in the area, while it has drastically changed around the site. The tower’s initial function, when it was built, was to distribute clean water from Lake Michigan to the Milwaukee County. There used to be but a single farm nearby, but now is a central hub area for the city. When it used to be just the farm, the only people that would see the tower directly was the family that lived by the site and the cows that grazed around it, but now a vast amount of humans roam the area.
The 175 foot Victorian Gothic water tower was built to help provide clean water to the city. The area started to grow residentially. Nicer homes began to develop around the tower, near the lake, because the closer you were to the area the cleaner the water was that you got. As the development of the area progressed further away from the lake the total income of homes went down. Today, we can notice the nicer family homes that overlook the lake still exist and further back are the apartment living homes. The families that lived closer to the lake not only got cleaner water, but also had a better view of the lake and that’s why the living spaces were cheaper the further away from the end of North Avenue.
Today the North Avenue is an area that brings many demographics together, including families (living closer the lake), college students, and the working class (living in the apartments and dorms). It has a variety of businesses, restaurants, shopping, bars, the beach, and also the hospital. The site around the North Point Water Tower is a central hub now, where there is high traffic from people every day. Even though more people move around the water tower today, less people actually know about its history. When it used to be used for clean water more people knew about it in Milwaukee County because it was a symbol of clean water, but not everyone could see it who benefited from it. Today there is high traffic everyday around the water tower, but people don’t know its history. Also, the water tower isn’t operable anymore, so its function today is merely a piece of Milwaukee history.
The outside appearance of the tower hasn’t changed, its place in society has. In its early state it used to be a living piece of architecture, but is now an icon architecture. More people appreciated the tower and what it provided when it was distributing clean water to the county. Today it is one of Milwaukee’s historical landmarks, but majority of the demographic that lives around this side of the city don’t know about its old use. It is a symbol in Milwaukee that has not changed visually, but its place in the community has; when there was less population more people used it as a commodity and knew what its purpose was, but even with a denser population around the area now there are less people that know about how the North Point Water Tower has impacted Milwaukee’s history and development.