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Middle Atlantic States | New York | Geneva |
Geneva was settled around 1793.
The first water works was built by the Geneva Water Works Company, which was organized in 1796 and supplied water the following year. A charter from the state was received on March 31, 1803. The system was expanded several times and iron pipes were installed in 1846.
Geneva Palladium, August 25, 1825 |
The City of Geneva bought the water system in 1896 and currently supplies water to the community.
References
1803 An act to incorporate the Proprietors of
the Geneva Water-Works. March 31, 1803.
1878
History
of Ontario Co., New York by
W. H. MacIntosh
Page 129: THE GENEVA WATER-WORKS—This organization was established
August 20, 1796, and the following subscribed to the shares set opposite
their names; Jacob HALLETT, for Chas. WILLIAMSON, 20; Jacob HALLETT, 6;
Timothy ALLEN, 3; J. W. HALLETT, 1; David COOK, 1; David ABBEY, 1; Samuel
HOOKER, 1; Clark JENNINGS, 1; C. HART, 2; Phineas PIERCE, 1; Thos. SISSON,
1; P. ALLEN, for Ambrose HULL, 2; Elias JACKSON, 3; Thos. WILLIAMS, 1;
Ezra PATTERSON, 2; Samuel COLT, 2; T. WALBUR and W. LATHUR, 1; Jerome
LUMMIS, 1; Job SMITH, 2; GRIEVE and MOFFATT, 4; Robert JOURDAN, 1; BEAN
and LUZALERE, 1; Jacob BLACKENSTOSE, 1; HOWARD and GRIFFEN, 1; Wm. M.
GUNNING, 1; J. JOHNSTON, 2. The following also subscribed to one share
each; J. SAYRE, William ADAMS, Park ALLYN, Alex. BERNIE, Nath. W. HOWELL,
Joseph ANNIN, Edward WHITE, Samuel LATTA.
The company was incorporated March 31, 1803, with the following charter
members: Herman H. BOGERT, Jacob HALLETT, Jacob W. HALLETT, Samuel COLT,
Nathaniel MERRILL, David COOK, David MAGEE, Ezra PATTERSON, Wm. HOUTFEN,
Chas. WILLIAMSON, Thos. POWELL, John JOHNSTON, Polydore B. WISNER, and
Joseph ANNIN.
The following is the board of directors as at present constituted: Stephen
H. HAMMOND, Stewart S. COBB, Phineas PROUTY, Samuel H. VERPLANCK, Edward
KINGSLAND. Mr. HAMMOND, president; Mr. VERPLANCK, treasurer; Mr.
KINGSLAND, secretary.
The reservoir is located upon the “White Springs Farm,” lately owned and
occupied by James O. SHELDON, about one and one half miles west of Main
street on the old pre-emption road. The spring is two hundred and
eighty-three feet above Seneca lake, and furnishes an abundance of water
for the supply of the village.
1882 Geneva, from Engineering News 9:123 (April 15, 1882)
1882 Geneva, from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.
1888 "Geneva," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1. Note that the construction date of 1797 in the 1882 Engineering News article became 1787 in the 1888 and later editions of the Manual of American Water Works, which has carried over into later writings.
1890 "Geneva," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.
1891 "Geneva," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.
1893 History of Ontario County, New York
edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich and George Stillwell Conover
Page 266: During the year 1796 the little village was provided with a
water supply, by the formation of a company, followed by the laying of
pipes from the White Springs, about one and one-half miles southwest of
Pelteney Park. The pipes were of logs, ten to twelve inches in
diameter with a two-inch bore through which water could be supplied to
each house in the village. The Geneva Water Works company was
incorporated in 1803, which will be more fully referred to later in this
chapter.
Page 273: The Geneva Water Works Company- The present water supply
company traces its history back almost an hundred years, to the time when
the energetic action of Captain Williamson and a few of his associates
laid log pipes from the White Springs, and thus furnished the village with
wholesome water for all domestic purposes. The organization of this
primitive company was accomplished in August, 1796, and in the next year
the water supply was furnished. On the 31st of March, 1803, an
incorporated company was formed, among whom were Herman H. Bogert, Jacob
Hallett, Jacob W. Hallett, Samuel Colt, Nathaniel Merrill, David Cook,
David Naglee, Ezra Patterson, Charles Williamson, Thomas Powell, John
Johnston, Polydore B. Wisner and Joseph Annin. This company for some time
operated the old system provided originally, cast iron pipes with a bore
of two and one-half inches being substituted in 1846, but the rapid growth
and extension of the village finally necessitated a more substantial
equipment and a greater supply; consequently new pipes were laid and the
storage reservoir increased in capacity. In 1875 the works of the company
were a second time enlarged, and again in 1887 and '88, the latter
increase in capacity being the cause of much discussion and some feeling
throughout the village. At this time a pumping station was established on
the lake to increase the natural reservoir supply, and this was the
occasion of the criticisms upon the action of the company. There have been
established at various convenient points throughout the village 125 fire
hydrants, from which water is taken in case of fire, the same being paid
for by the village. There are about fifteen miles of from four to
twelve-inch main pipe. The capital stock of the company is $20,000, and
the officers are Stephen H. Hammond, president; A. L. Chew, treasurer;
Edward Kingsland, secretary; Samuel S. Graves, superintendent. Cost of the
works has been $150,000, and in the present year, 1893, the works are
again being enlarged.
1897 "Geneva," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.
© 2015 Morris A. Pierce