Laughing Squid - Latest Comments in Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

Re: Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

Lindsey Whalen — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:14:07 -0000

This is the true story. Hop Ewing was my grandfather and he told it many times. His favorite part to tell is how he sat in the Stringtown Restaurant and sketched different ideas on a napkin until he finally came up with Y'all.

Re: Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

Gary — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:47:49 -0000

Scott, I don't know if there is any way to check out the precise story I have heard it in a few variations. The most prevailent story is that after the tower was painted with the Florence Y'all it was brought to their attention that it was illegal for the city to advertise for private business and mayor played with variations on a piece of paper and came up with the idea of M turned into a Y like you said to save money and has remained the same every since. Now there is even a festival every year called the Florence Y'all festival. On a side note CM Ewing's daughter is now the Mayor of Florence! Diane Ewing- Whalen.
Gary in Florence Y'all

Re: Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

Amjad "AJ" Nabi — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:13:08 -0000

Just the other day, dear friends of my parents and one of Hop Ewings best friends and head pall-bearer at his funeral, stopped by my place and dropped off a picture of Hop (on his 80th Birthday). I never had the fortune of meeting this fine man, but I'm blessed that I receive many goodwill tokens from his life-time of service to Florence, KY, USA. Because of all the strange connections with Florence and Hop Ewing, I decided to name my first restaurant venture after "THE FLORENCE Y"ALL WATER TOWER"... Who would have thought?

Re: Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

Jared Whalen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:44:32 -0000

The story is most definitly true. Heard it first hand from my Grandfather C.M. Hop Ewing. Mr. Yall

Re: Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

T.J. — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:08:27 -0000

Drove down from Columbus, OH and spent the day in Florence for work. I have seen the sign many times, and it still always cracks me up

Re: Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

SlashChick — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:01:56 -0000

Hey Scott, I grew up near Cincy and that is indeed an (in)famous landmark. Curious as to where you grew up, since you mention remembering it.

Re: Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

yawfren — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:18:41 -0000

Haha, last thing I expected to see on the site for my web host would be a landmark from just a couple miles south of me. Florence Y'all! I honestly thought that history was urban myth but I keep hearing the same thing about the mall.

Re: Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

Mark Celsor — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:46:57 -0000

Ah, come on man! I moved thousands of miles from Cincinnati to Berkeley to escape seeing the Florence Y'all water tower all the time and here you go putting it into my RSS reader. Thanks for the history though.