Couch Art!
My childhood home (an over 100-year old farmhouse) in southeastern Ohio was easy to spot; there was a 100-foot water tower in my backyard. The kids in our little village would try and jump to the high steel ladder that hung above our heads in the non-fenced-in tower and it is a constant fixture in my memory’s background. It seems like it was a daily event that my brother and I would climb on the towers legs and peel off the chipped paint for fun. I used to have dreams of the water tower bursting open and flooding our house although I never saw water actually come out of it!
Elevated water storage tanks have been around since ancient times but it was really in the late 19th century when pressurized water distribution was made available through standpipes that many of these water towers started to crop up in places like the east coast of the United States. The demands for our growing cities can be seen in these historic steel fixtures! Interestingly, water towers still play a significant role in connecting rural areas like southeast Ohio through wireless satellite companies so they are still quite important.
Want to own a cool water tower pillow?
I do! Artisan Ronda J Smith is a Brooklyn transplant originally from Detroit that makes awesome handmade pillows with her original photographs. I love her New York City themed pillows especially her water tower pillows that remind me of my childhood.
Why are there so many water towers in New York City? That is a very simple answer. It was a law! In the 19th century, the city of New York required that buildings taller than six stories had to be equipped with a rooftop water tower. Many architects would design buildings with water towers built into them. There are actually many historic and decorated water towers throughout the United States, but New York City definitely has a large amount in the area.
Own a piece of history and a fun functional piece of art with the Greenpoint Water Tower pillow! This was my favorite picture in Ronda’s collection because Greenpoint looks the most similar to the tower I had in my backyard. Greenpoint, Brooklyn is the most northern borough in the New York City and their famous water tower is pretty much visible from most spots in the area. If you want a reminder of New York City like the Greenpoint tower in your home, this is a very unique way to view it. My oldest daughter and I had fun talking about the history of water towers and I showed her a few childhood pictures of the one I had in my backyard (she was with me the last time I drove past the home in 2011, but she does not remember.) I will always equate southeastern Ohio with my water tower and it is a nice reminder of home.
Check it out! Ronda’s pillows can be custom designed and she has an adorable collection of pillows of baby pictures she has completed. Her designs are now available through Uncommon Good’s website. Congrats!
List Price: $ 65.00
Momma's Bacon 