Explore History / Landmark Story
Marysville’s water towers.
One tower changed the city’s water system. A second served a growing south end. The survivor became one of Marysville’s most recognizable landmarks.
The water towers
Two towers. One remains.
Marysville once had two water towers. The survivor—a 50,000-gallon steel tank in Comeford Park—was filled for the first time in 1921 as part of the city’s new water system.
A larger tower was later built near the waterfront to serve the growing south end. It came down in 1987. The original tower, no longer part of the water system, became a beloved civic landmark and was preserved through the efforts of residents and the Marysville Historical Society.
A brief history drawn from research by MHS president Peter Condyles.
- 1921
- The original towerThe 50,000-gallon Comeford Park tank was filled for the first time on November 17.
- 1987
- One tower comes downThe larger south-end tower was removed during downtown redevelopment.
- 2002
- Seismic stabilizationThe Marysville Historical Society donated $50,000 to help cover the cost of making the tower seismically stable.
- 2022
- Current white-and-green paint schemeThe water tower received its current white-and-green paint scheme.
- Today
- One landmark remainsCommunity preservation kept the Comeford Park tower in Marysville’s skyline.
From the archive
Watch the story.
See Marysville’s landmark from two perspectives, with footage that brings the tower’s history and place in the community to life.
