May 13, 2025

MHRB_2024-0009
Mendocino Historical Review Board
Water Tower Demolition Appeal – Raymond

Dear Supervisors Cline, Mulheren, Norvell, Haschak, and Williams:

By now, we know the basic story of the Mendosa water tower that stands on Main Street in Mendocino. This 30-foot-high structure was originally built to serve as a source of pressurized water for Frank Mendosa’s general store. And, like most of the water towers, it also provided thousands of gallons to the volunteer fire department in its efforts to keep that part of town from burning to the ground.

Some seventy years after it was built in 1904, the property owners deemed it structurally unsound and were preparing to demolish it, when Jim Coupe and Barry Cusick had a better idea. Carefully de-constructed and then re-assembled in 1976, they let it perform the novel function of carrying people to the second floor of a new business — as well as providing water.

Mendocino’s water towers are not just historic. Their unique architectural forms are a defining feature of this town. Our research team has documented more than 150 towers since the first one appeared in the early 1860s on west Main Street. Less than two dozen remain.

The continued existence of those still standing reveals our community’s strongly felt dedication to preserving these special structures, as well as the proper obligation property owners have demonstrated by their commitment to conserve them. Every one of the remaining towers has undergone significant reconstruction or renovation. Two examples of these successful preservation efforts are the Lansing Water Tower across from the Presbyterian Church, despite initial objections by its owners, and the oldest tower — the City Hotel Water Tower — that was re-built at considerable cost to its owners.

The Mendosa Main Street Water Tower is exceptional in another way. It is the only one where school children, local people, and visitors can personally interact with one of Mendocino’s most iconic features. Only here are we allowed to walk up to a water tower and place our hand on its rough timber supports, look upward, and then ascend its interior stairs, perhaps imagining what it would be like to have our water stored in the tank on top. This is a small, yet tangible way to experience Mendocino. Unless you are staying at one of the inns where they are available only to paying guests, all the other remaining water towers are on private property and are off limits. But here on Main Street, people can still walk up and touch water tower history.

Please ensure the preservation of one of Mendocino’s treasures.

Karen McGrath
Former Director-Curator,
Kelley House Museum