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Water Tower Steel Arrives
Tribune photo published January 4, 1958

Six car-loads of steel arrived in Ames Monday to be used for the new water tower located on 24th Street, one-half mile west of Grand Avenue.  More steel is scheduled to arrive for the tower that will be finished sometime this summer.  The 750,000 gallon capacity tank will replace the old tank located at the water plant, which has a capacity of 300,000 gallons.  City officials estimate there will be about a 10-pound in water pressure in the down-town area when the new tank is placed in service.

This unusual view of the Ft. Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Depot yard looks southeast towards the intersection of Lincoln Way and Grand Avenue.  The north and west sides of the depot are visible.  The Ames High School fieldhouse can be seen in the background at left, and an Iowa Highway Commission building is visible behind the automobile heading east on Lincoln Way.  View more images showing this area.

Ames Daily Tribune, February 6, 1958 BUILDING WATER TOWER – Construction began Wednesday on the new city water tower on west 24th Street.  The structure is anticipated to be completed sometime this summer.  Water pressure is expected to jump considerably throughout the city upon completion of the tower.
Ames Daily Tribune, February 21, 1958 GOING UP – Work is progressing rapidly on the new municipal water tower on 24th Street west of Grand Avenue.  The supporting framework has been completed and the standpipe is nearly completed.  The next step will be the putting up of the tank itself.  All materials are now on the site.
Ames Daily Tribune, March 1, 1958 WORK PROGRESSING – The initial framework and stand-pipe has been completed on the new municipal water tower located on West 24th Street.  Construction is beginning on the tank itself.  When completed and in use the addition to water facilities is expected to increase water pressure considerably in several areas of the city.
Ames Daily Tribune, December 20, 1959 Sealed bids were requested by the City Council of Ames for the sale of, salvage and removal of 300,000 gallons elevated water tower adjacent to city water plant.  Approximate weight is 110 tons.

This aerial photo from late May of 1958 looks southeast and shows the intersection of Hoover and 24th Street.  Earlier, Franklin Township School No. 8 had been located at the site of the new municipal water tower.  Today, Calvary United Methodist is located on the east side of Hoover and several Habitat for Humanity houses are on site formerly occupied by the water tower.  Note the development on Melrose Avenue south of 24th Street.  Some farm buildings and a portion of the driveway to the farmstead owned by Ed and Neva Morris can be seen in the foreground.