The Tale of Colony Tower, St. Clair County: 1920s

Colony Tower is considered a Michigan roadside attraction, although it didn’t begin as such. It is located at 6503 Dyke Road in Pearl Beach in St. Clair County.

The Colony Tower is basically a water tower with a gate and gatehouse that began life in the mid-1920s. Detroit developer Will St. John platted a residential community he dubbed "The Colony," specifically for the elite, rich professionals in a secluded neighborhood on Lake Saint Clair.

Once the subdivision had 147 lots, St. John had a water tower erected for residents of the subdivision. As a promotional idea, he gave it the appearance of a lighthouse, including a beacon. By 1929, there were only three out of the 147 lots that had houses. One of them belonged to the afore-mentioned Will St. John himself. Unfortunately for him, his dream of a paradise for the elite was squelched thanks to the Great Depression.

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The tower became a roadside attraction, and the subdivision became a residential area that was open to everyone. The tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, with the gatehouse following in 1995.

Part of the Historical Marker reads: “Built in 1925 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Works, this steel-framed water tower was the main water supplier for "The Colony on the Ste. Claire" — a secluded residential community established in Clay Township during the 1920s. The Colony Tower marked the entrance to the Will St. John estate, the home of the real estate developer who founded The Colony subdivision..... A light shone from atop the tower, aiding boat and aircraft navigation from 1925 until 1937.”

The tower was revamped from 1998-2003 with new lighting following in 2017.

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