US tower is the ‘most phallic building in the world’ – and conspiracy claims it will ‘only fall when a virgin graduates’
A NEARLY 150-foot tall water tower has been dubbed the most phallic building in the US.
The structure that looms over Ypsilanti, Michigan, earned the title after it won a competition organized by Cabinet Magazine.
It's one of the most noteworthy sites in the city of about 20,000, so students at nearby Eastern Michigan University have created a myth about it, the Daily Star reported.
But the structure, which locals have lovingly dubbed "Brick Dick," is unlikely to come down any time soon, as it's a protected historical site.
The Queen Anne-style tower was designed by architect William Coats in 1889, Atlas Obscura reported.
Construction was completed the next year.
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As they built the tower, construction workers worked four crosses into the brickwork.
They're hard to spot from the ground, but still visible.
Before then, Ypsilanti had no running water.
It was the only water tower in the town's system until 1956, the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority reported.
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In front of the tower, there's a statue honoring the town's namesake Demetrios Ypsilantis, an important figure in the Greek War of Independence.
When the town was founded in 1835, the Greeks were busy battling the Ottoman Empire for their autonomy.
But now, its historical significance is nearly forgotten in modern times as it has become an inside joke amongst residents.
There is even a local legend that spells doom for the tower should a specific requirement be met.
The tower will fall if a virgin ever graduates from the school, the legend says.
