Documentary History of American Water-works

Franklin

Franklin, Pennsylvania

Franklin was incorporated as a borough in 1828 and as a city in 1868.

The Venango Water Company was incorporated in 1863 and build a gravity water works that began operating in the summer of 1865.

After a thirty year struggle, the City of Franklin bought the water company on July 26, 1908 for $260,000.

Water is provided by the City of Franklin.

References
1863 An act to incorporate the Venango Water Company. April 4, 1863.

1869 A supplement to an act to incorporate the Venango Water Company, approved the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three. April 13, 1869.

1870 A supplement to an act to incorporate the Venango Water Company, approved the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three. February 18, 1870.

1872 A further supplement to an act to incorporate the Venango Water Company. April 3, 1872.

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

1883 Franklin, from Engineering News, 10:200 (April 28, 1883)

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

1890 History of Venango County, Pennsylvania: Its Past and Present
Page 403: The Venango Water Company—F. W. Mitchell, president; C. Heydrick, O. D. Bleakley, C. W. Gilfillan, J. L. Hanna, and James Woodburn, directors, and R. J. Hanna, general manager, was incorporated by act of the legislature October 22, 1863, and organized May 7, 1864. The first president was J. L. Hanna; the first directors were E. C. Pechin, Robert Lamberton, Samuel F. Dale, P. McGough, and C. Heydrick. The works were constructed and placed in operation in the summer of 1865. The original capital was twenty thousand dollars, which has since increased to one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars.

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

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

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

1907 Second Annual Report of the Commissioner of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pages 496-502: Franklin, Venango County. December 11, 1907

1908 Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), July 18, 1908, Page 4.
The city of Franklin on Wednesday purchased from the Venango Water Company the plant which furnishes the city with its water, the price paid being $260,000.