Ball of Water
The water tank has been an icon of the city from 1908 until today; it continues to supply water to portions of downtown. The tank was manufactured in Germany and assembled on site, and is unique in being assembled using rivets rather than welds. It is believed to be the only one of its kind with a spherical shape (it is rumored that there was another similar water ball in Stuttgart, Germany that was destroyed during the Second World War). Traditionally, locals tell visitors that it is filled with Cajeta, taking them to visit the "Bola del Agua" during Sundays, the traditional day for visiting the Indepencencia drive. A plaque at the base of the water tower contains the following legend:
'"This tower was built at the expense of the municipality of the city in 1910 and officially opened on 15 September, the day of the anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of Mexico as a state governor Mr . Mr. Dan. Joaquín González Obregón, who gave full moral support to the construction.'s work and everything related to the provision of drinking water, was designed and conducted by the district political head Mr. Don Perfecto I. Aranda, its total cost with intubation limited to two circuits was $ 161,520.84 (mexican old) pesos ".During Mexican Revolution, Villa's officers thought the hydraulic tower had such a large amount of water that destroying it would drown the population of Celaya. One of Villa's generals ordered his artillery to destroy it. Captain Gustavo Duron, in charge of a 75mm battery, followed the orders but shot around the tower, avoiding it and protecting the monument, as mentioned by local historian Herminio Martínez.
The water tower has a base width of 10 meters and a height of 35 m above ground level, the single sphere has a diameter of 12 m with a capacity of "approximately 904.77 cubic meters." The work was carried out under the command of German Enrique Schondube. The construction of this work resulted in the neglect of the people who were handing out water at home from the mayor's so-called water carriers. For several years he was allowed to place commercial advertising on top to cover the costs of the tower, this was done until September 8, 1985 when, celebrating the "Anniversary of the Foundation of Celaya", the mayor's office decided that the Ball Water would be a symbol that would represent the city, and commercial advertising on it was banned.
Read more about this topic: Celaya
Famous quotes containing the words ball and/or water:
“But the ball is lost and the mallet slipped long since from the hands
Under the running tap that are not the hands of a child.”
—Louis MacNeice (1907–1963)
“In full view of his television audience, he preached a new religion—or a new form of Christianity—based on faith in financial miracles and in a Heaven here on earth with a water slide and luxury hotels. It was a religion of celebrity and showmanship and fun, which made a mockery of all puritanical standards and all canons of good taste. Its standard was excess, and its doctrines were tolerance and freedom from accountability.”
—New Yorker (April 23, 1990)