Comments on: Florence Y’All Water Tower in Florence, Kentucky

By: Brad

Brad — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:04:56 +0000

My history and political science teacher in high school said his dad was the one who brought up the statute that got the “Mall” changed to “Y’all” because he had a business that was told by the city that their sign was too large. He rebutted this by saying that the Florence Mall sign was WAY too large, and everything that went down as a result was because of that.

By: justin

justin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:42:53 +0000

Florence would be just the same without it PLEASE someone TAKE IT DOWN!!!!!!! We are not a bunch of HILLBILLY’S and i am sick of people being like you from Florence Y’ALL

By: Teresa Roberts

Teresa Roberts — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:16:36 +0000

I’ve lived in Florence, KY for most of my life and i can remember as a little girl the tower said Florence Mall. But the mall was done. We use to shop there. And one day it changed. I always herd it was because you couldn’t advertise for a privet business for free on city property.

By: Lindsey Whalen

Lindsey Whalen — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:14:07 +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.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:47:49 +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

By: Amjad "AJ" Nabi

Amjad "AJ" Nabi — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 07:13:08 +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?

By: Jared Whalen

Jared Whalen — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:44:32 +0000

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

By: T.J.

T.J. — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:08:27 +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

By: SlashChick

SlashChick — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:01:56 +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.

By: yawfren

yawfren — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:18:41 +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.

By: Mark Celsor

Mark Celsor — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:46:57 +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.