Introduction | Historical Background | Chronology | Geography | Biography | Technology | Ownership and Financing | General Bibliography |
North
Central States |
Ohio | Norwalk |
Norwalk was incorporated as a city in 1881.
The village built a Holly water system that was completed on March 31, 1871.
Water is supplied by the city of Norwalk, which has a history page.
References
1871 "Holly Water Works," Cleveland Daily
Leader, March 31, 1871, Page 4.
Trial Test of the Holly Water Works at Norwalk - Their Thorough Efficiency
Demonstrated
1871 "The Norwalk Water Works," The Fremont Weekly Journal, April 7, 1871, Page 3.
1878 "Norwalk, Ohio, Water Works," Engineering News 5:153-154 (May 16, 1878)
1879 History
of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with
illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and
pioneers, by William W. Williams
Pages 143-144: Norwalk Water Works.
The citizens of Norwalk, as the town increased to a goodly size, felt the
need of a more adequate supply of water for all purposes, than could be
obtained from wells and cisterns, and in 1869, or before that time, the
question of erecting a system of water works began to be agitated.
Meetings were held, and the council engaged the services of an engineer to
make surveys with such an object in view in the future. It was found
impracticable to adopt the reservoir system, which was at first proposed.
Surveys were made at Maxville, but would require seven miles of pipe. For
similar reasons other places, where water could be procured, were
discarded. A committee was appointed by the village council to visit
Kalamazoo, Michigan, and examine into the Holly system of water works,
which had been adopted, and were in use in that city. They were well
satisfied with the results of their examination, and on their returning
the council passed an ordinance which was published December 20, 1809,
submitting the question of establishing the Holly system of water works,
to a popular vote, the cost of the same not to exceed seventy-five
thousand dollars. A meeting of the citizens was called at the court house,
January 28, 1870, which was enthusiastic in favor of the proposition. The
election to decide the question was held February 7th, and resulted in a
vote of five hundred and eighty in favor to twenty-one against. The
proposition was to issue bonds for the whole amount, the same to run not
to exceed fifteen years at seven per cent. interest. It being feared after
the vote was taken that the bonds could not be negotiated with but seven
per cent. interest, it was thought best to again submit it to the people,
with a change in the rate of interest the bonds were to bear, to eight
cent. The requisite notice was given, and the second election was held
April 30, 1870, resulting in three hundred and ninety in favor of the
works, to thirty-eight against.
The erection of water works being determined on, three trustees were
elected at the regular time of holding elections, April i, 1870; the
members elected being O. A. White, S. J. Patrick and John Gardiner.
On June 1st, a contract was entered into by the village of Norwalk and the
Holly Manufacturing Company, of Lockport, New York, for suitable machinery
for the purpose desired, the water capacity to be not less than two
million gallons every twenty-four hours, and the machinery to be shipped
on or before August 15, 1870. Work was at once begun on a well, filters,
and a brick house for the machinery, which were erected at a cost of four
thousand dollars. The work of laying pipe was also commenced, but was not
completed until the spring of 1871. It had been decided to procure the
water from the east branch of the Huron river, some two miles west from
the courthouse. The machinery was duly placed in position, and on March
30, 1871, a test of the working of the machinery was made. A committee of
citizens was invited by the council to visit the works. Visitors were also
present from Sandusky, Milan, Fremont, Adrian, Michigan, Mansfield and
other places. The test proved entirely satisfactory, and was duly reported
in the leading papers of this portion of the State. The citizens, one and
all, took great pride in the fact of the establishment of a water works
system in the beautiful village, their home.
The building for the machinery is fifty-four by fifty-eight feet. The
machinery comprised three engines, one being a rotary for reserve
purposes, the others double-cylinder piston engines. Two boilers furnished
steam, and six gang pumps forced the water, which runs through a filter of
stone, charcoal and coarse sand, into a well twenty-five feet deep and
twenty-two feet wide, capable of holding fifty-six thousand gallons of
water. A telegraph line runs from the works to town; there is also a
telephone attached to the wire.
It was found, after a while, that the Holly engines were not satisfactory,
and, in the spring of 1878, two new Worthington low-pressure engines and
pumps were placed in position, and were tested, in presence of the
trustees, April 22, 1878, proving entirely satisfactory.
The cost of the Holly works was a little more than ninety-six thousand
dollars, and the new Worthington engines and pipes have cost fourteen
thousand dollars more, making a total cost of about one hundred and ten
thousand dollars. In the near future it will be necessary to replace the
main pipe with a larger size, as the one now in use causes a great
loss in pressure from its being too small. At the present time, it
requires a pressure of one hundred and sixty-five to one hundred and
eighty-five pounds at the works to produce ninety to ninety-seven and
one-half at the court house, which is elevated about fifty feet above the
works and two miles distant. The system, as a whole, has proved a good
investment to Norwalk, and such defects as it may have will, in time, be
remedied.
The number of water takers, the 15th of May, 1879, was about three hundred
and seventy-five. There are now in place, for use, some ninety hydrants,
about fourteen miles of street mains, and two tanks for the use of the
traveling public in watering their teams.
The power at the water works is utilized instead of fire engines, in case
of fire on any of the streets in the village. As soon as an alarm is
sounded, the signal for fire pressure to be applied is sent over the wire
to the engineer at his post, at the water works building. The fire
companies respond to the alarm, and as soon as the hose are attached to
the hydrants, powerful streams of water can be thrown; thus the water
works power answers the same purpose as half a dozen fire engines, and at
no additional cost.
Many of the citizens have small rubber hose, which can be attached to the
pipes in their yards and used to water the flowers, the lawn and garden,
and sometimes to settle the dust on the street. Different forms of lawn
sprinklers are used, some of them producing a beautiful spray, and serving
the purpose of a fountain. In addition to these fi.Ktures, there are a
number of fine private fountains, in different parts of the village, the
power for which is furnished by the aid of the heavy engines, located two
miles distant.
The present (1879) officers of the works are as follows: W. A. Mack,
president; W. A. Mack, J. M. Crosby, David Stoutenburgh, trustees; M. Y.
Watrous, secretary; U. Pritchard, superintendent.
1881 Norwalk, from Engineering News 8:382 (September 24, 1881)
1882 Norwalk
from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States,"
by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.
1888 "Norwalk,"
from Manual of American Water Works,
Volume 1.
1890 "Norwalk," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.
1891 "Norwalk," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.
1896 Report
of the State Board of Health of the State of Ohio
Page 100-113: Report on Proposed Water Supply for Norwalk
1897 "Norwalk,"
from Manual of American Water Works,
Volume 4.
© 2019 Morris A. Pierce