Documentary History of American Water-works

Ohio

Mansfield

Mansfield, Ohio

Mansfield was incorporated as a village in 1828 and as a city in 1857.

The city of Mansfield built a Holly water system that began service on August 20, 1872 using rotary and gang pumps driven by steam.

Water is supplied by the city of Mansfield.

References
1871 The Stark County Democrat (Canton, Ohio), May 4, 1871, Page 2.
Mansfield voted for Water Works on Monday, by 533 votes out of a total of 739.

1872 Chicago Tribune, August 19, 1872, Page 1.
Mansfield, O., Aug. 18. - The City Water Works are about completed and several tests have been made. A number of pipes have burst, but have been replaced. The formal opening of the Water Works will not take place till after the State Fair.

1872 The Fremont Weekly Journal, October 25, 1872, Page 3.
A formal test of the Mansfield Water Works was made last week, and resulted very satisfactorily.

1882 Mansfield, from Engineering News 9:373 (October 28, 1882)

1882 Mansfield from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.

1888 "Mansfield," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.

1890 "Mansfield," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.

1891 "Mansfield," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.

1897 "Mansfield," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.

1908 History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908: Also Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens of the County, Volume 1, by Abraham J. Baughman
Pages 475-476: The Mansfield Water Works and Fire Department
The subject of building water works for the city was first discussed in 1848, but did not materialize until 1871. when the people decided by a decisive vote at the spring election of that year that the long.felt want should be supplied, and H. R. Smith, A. C. Cummins and S. B. Sturges were appointed trustees with plenary power to proceed with the work of installing a water work plant and ground was broken for the same May 15, 1871. The council voted a bond issue of $175,000, and E. McCoy was appointed foreman of the work. The Holly system was decided upon and the water was taken out of the Rockyfork creek, four hundred and fifty feet above the works, six acres of ground having been purchased for the works.
The work was pushed with such energy that on the 20th of August, 1872, the works were in operation. After a few years’ experience, much complaint having been made about the quality of the Rockyfork water, it was decided to take water from the Laird and the Johns springs, within easy reach of the works, thus giving the city pure spring water.

1943 "General Improvements to Mansfield's Water Works," Water and Sewage Works 90:175 (1943)
Mr. Kalbfieisch spoke briefly on the "General Improvements to Mansfield's Water Works" ; of the history of the water supply; of how the reservoirs were constructed 20 years ago when the well supply had dwindled in capacity from 3.5 m.g.d. to