| Introduction | Historical Background | Chronology | Geography | Biography | Technology | Ownership and Financing | General Bibliography |
| Middle Atlantic States | Pennsylvania | Danville |
Danville was incorporated as a borough in 1849.
The Danville Water Company was incorporated in 1867, but did not build anything.
The borough was authorized to build water works in 1872, and built a Holly system that was demonstrated on September 11, 1873. The system used steam engines to pump water from the upper branch of the Susquehanna River. The system included two engines of each one hundred and fifty horse-power, two powerful rotary pumps and a gang of twelve piston pumps.
The Danville Municipal Authority was incorporated on June 8, 1951.
Water is provided by the Danville Municipal Authority
References
1867 An act to incorporate the Danville Water
Company. March 26, 1867.
1869 A supplement to an act to incorporate the Danville Water Company, approved March twenty-sixth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven. April 14, 1869
1872 An act to enable the borough of Danville, in the county of Montour, to establish water works. March 22, 1872.
1873 "Danville
Items," Northumberland County Democrat (Sunbury,
Pennsylvania), August 22, 1873, Page 2.
Fire. About ten o'clock A.M., on the 21st inst., the large planing mill
belonging to Levi Berger was discovered to be on fire. Two hand
engines and a steamer were soon on the ground, but the flames spread so
rapidly that all efforts to save the property were fruitless. The
new Holly Water Works have not been fully completed yet, but Mr. Holly
started a fire under the boiler and in 12 minutes had the works in
operation. The hose belonging to the hand engines was attached to
the street plugs and soon five immense streams were playing on the
fire. This, with the efforts of the engines, prevented the flames
from spreading. The fire was the work of incindinary. It was
insured in the Lycoming, but for what amount we did learn.
1873 Northumberland
County Democrat (Sunbury, Pennsylvania), September 12, 1873,
Page 3.
There will be a test of the new Holly Water Works at Danville on Thursday,
Sept. 11th.
1881 Danville, from Engineering News, 8:394 (November 12, 1881)
1881 Danville,
Montour County, Pennsylvania: A Collection of Historical and
Biographical Sketches, by D. H. B. Brower
Pages 150-152: Water Works. The question of supplying Danville with
water was long and earnestly debated, and various plans or systems were
proposed. Some favored a reservoir on York's Hill and forcing the water
from the river by a powerful, stationary engine. Others favored a
reservoir, but insisted on bringing the water from Roaring creek in pipes
passing under the river bed; others again were inclined to a connection
with the water works at the asylum. Some ten years ago, a company was
chartered, as the "Danville Water Company;" but it never got beyond a
formal organization. In 1871 some pamphlets were sent to this place,
explaining the character and success of the "Holly system," recently
introduced by the Holly firm at Lockport, New York. The town council took
up the subject, and whilst all urged a water supply the council was about
equally divided between the Holly system and a reservoir. Finally a
committee, consisting of George W. Reay, J. W. Sweisfort, William Buckley,
and M. D. L. Sechler, was appointed to investigate the subject.
In the later part of April, 1872, the committee went to Elmira, Buffalo,
Binghampton, Rochester, Auburn, and other cities where the various plans
are in operation. It is worthy of note that a majority of the committee
was opposed to the Holly system, but after a full investigation they
unanimously reported in favor of the Holly works. Previous to this an
election was held at the court house to ascertain the popular sentiment.
There was a large majority in favor of water, but owing to some
informality the result was not satisfactory. After a warm contest the
Holly system was adopted by the casting vote of Burgess, Oscar Ephlin, and
a contract was accordingly made with the Holly Company at Lockport, New
York. The final vote on adopting the Holly system was as follows: For the
Holly works, George W. Reay, William Buckley, Jacob Schuster, George W.
Miles, J. W. Sweisfort, M. D. L. Sechler, and Oscar Ephlin, Bur- • gess.
Against the Holly works; George Lovett, Samuel Lewis, James L. Riehl,
Henry M. Schoch, and Hickman Frame.
The water works are located on the river bank in the First ward. The
engines and pumps are a model of beauty and of power. A filterer was
constructed some distance out in the river, and the water from thence
forced through metal pipes through every portion of the town, not only
supplying the citizens but proving a great safety in case of fire. These
works have a capacity of two millions of gallons in twenty-four hours, but
can be procured of any desired capacity. In the works here, there are two
engines of each one hundred and fifty horse-power, two powerful rotary
pumps and a gang of twelve piston pumps. There are ten miles of pipe laid
and there are about one hundred fire hydrants. The pipe was laid by S.
Krebs & Co., under a contract for $87,500. The contract for the
engines and pumps, with the Holly Manufacturing Company, at Lockport, New
York, was for $36,000. In 1880 the council had a well sunk on the river
bank, fifty feet in length, five feet wide, and ten feet deep. The works
are now perfectly satisfactory; the wretched filterer in the river having
been a source of constant trouble. It is proper to say that the wells as
now constructed, belong to the Holly system. The people of Danville,
notwithstanding the consequent debt, fully appreciate the great value of
the Holly system of water supply, and would on no consideration exchange
their magnificent works for any mud-hole of a reservoir that ever sent its
doubtful essence through a city, burdened, and yet deprived of pure,
wholesome water. We now have an abundance, and the safety these works
afford in case of fire as well as the economy in supporting a fire
department is alone worth more to Danville than their cost. In point of
convenience, purity, cleanliness, health, and safety from fire, the Holly
system of water works, so far as our experience with the testimony of
other cities extends is superior to all others.
The water works are managed by a board of three commissioners, appointed
by the town council. A superintendent, secretary, and other employees are
appointed by the commissioners.
The present board of water commissioners consist of John H. Grove, James
Cruikshanks, and Doctor R. S. Simington.
Superintendent, James Foster.
Clerk, Charles M. Zuber.
1882 Danville from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.
1887 History
of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania: Containing a History
of Each County, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches,
Industries, Etc., Portraits of Representative Men, Biographies,
History of Pennsylvania, Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc.,
by J. H. Battle
Part III - Page 115: Water Works. With the growth of the town and
its factories came the important question of a supply of good water. The
subject received general consideration as early as 1867 and the more it
was discussed the more determined became those citizens of spirit and
enterprise to devise some way to meet the long felt want. The water in the
town wells, found at a depth of twenty to twentyfive feet, or at the
strata of rock forming the river bed, which was never first rate, was
growing positively bad. In 1871 the Danville Water Company was formed, but
it seems it ceased to live after its formal organization. A committee was
appointed in 1872 consisting of George W. Reay, J . W. Sweisfort, William
Buckley, and M. D. L. Sechler, which visited several cities for the
purpose of investigating fully the subject. Upon their recommendation the
present place was adopted and the water works constructed, the Holly
Company’s system being deemed the best and cheapest. The works are located
on the bank of the river just below the bridge, a filter is constructed
some distance in the river and the water forced by powerful engines
through the pipes to all parts of the city, there being nearly twelve
miles of water mains, costing about $100,000 ; the engines and pumps
costing $36,000. The works give entire satisfaction in their operation and
such is their capacity and facilities that upon a few moments’ notice they
can increase the force of the water sufficiently to drown almost any
conflagration that might occur.
1888 "Danville," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.
1890 "Danville," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.
1891 "Danville," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.
1897 "Danville," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.
1915 Tenth
Annual Report of the Commissioner of Health for the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania
Pages 125-158: Typhoid Fever in Danville State Insane Asylum and in the
Borough of Danville, Montour County
1915 Historical
and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties,
Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families,
Volume I.
Pages 370-372: Waterworks.
© 2019 Morris A. Pierce