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| Middle Atlantic States | Pennsylvania | Lewistown |
Lewistown was first settled in 1790.
The borough of Lewistown was authorized to construct a water works in 1826, and began construction on a system in 1829 but it was never completed.
The Lewistown Water Company was incorporated in 1838, with Francis McClure, Henry Kulp, John R. Wickes, William McCoy, James McCord, Reuben C. Hale, David R. Reynolds, Joseph Milliken, Abraham Blymyer, William Cogshall, James Parker, James McDowell, Daniel Eisenbeise, Alexander C. Wilson, James Wareham, Daniel Bloom, Jacob Mutersbaugh, and William Mark named as commissioners to sell stock and form the company for "the purpose of introducing water into the said borough." The company constructed a system with a steam engine and reservoir. The system was rebuilt in 1896 as a gravity works.
The Citizens Water
Company of Lewistown was incorporated on March 11, 1901.
The Lewistown-Reedsville Water Company was incorporated in 1908 as a meger
of Lewistown Water Co., Granville Water Co., Minehart Run Water Co.,
Citizens Water Co. of Lewistown, and Reedsville Water Co.
The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Lewistown was formed on March
29, 1944 and acquired the Lewistown-Reedsville Water Company along with
the Burnham Water Company, Logan Springs Water Company, and the Milroy
Water Company..
Water service is provided
by the Municipal Authority of
the Borough of Lewistown.
References
1826 A further supplement to an act, entitled
"An act to erect Norristown, in Mongomery county, into a borough, and
for other purposes." April 10, 1826.
1838 An
act to incorporate the Luthersburg and Punxatawny Turnpike Road company,
and for other purposes. April 16, 1838.
Sections 16-28. Lewistown Water company
1853 An
act incorporating the West Kishacoquillas Valley turnpike road company;
to elections in the borough of Lewistown; to the erection of a Lock-up
house in the borough of Lewisburg, Union county ; authorizing the school
directors of of said borough to sell real estate; to the Lewistown Water
company; to the Lewistown Academy; to the real estate of William Barr,
deceased; extending chancery powers to the courts of Common Pleas of
Lycoming county; and to the Catawissa, Williamsport and Erie railroad
company. April 2, 1853.
Sections 11 & 12. Lewistown water company.
1860 An act in relation to the Stockholders in certain corporations. April 2, 1860.
1882 Lewistown, from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.
1886 History of that Part of the Susquehanna
and Juniata Valleys: Embraced in the Counties of Mifflin, Juniata,
Perry, Union and Snyder, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Volume 1, by Franklin Ellis and Austin N. Hungerford
Page 503-504 : LEWISTOWN WATER-WORKS. - In the supplement to "An act to
erect Norristown, in Montgomery County, into a Borough, and for other
purposes," passed April 10, 1826, it was provided "that the corporations
of the Borough of Norristown and the Borough of Lewistown be, and they are
hereby authorized and empowered to introduce into said borough a
sufficient supply of Schuylkill, Kishacoquillas or other wholesome water,
for the use of said Boroughs, at the expense of said Boroughs;" also
"authorized to convey such supply by means of pipes, trunks or aqueducts,
and to provide cisterns or reservoirs for the reception thereof." The
borough was authorized to borrow not exceeding eight thousand dollars for
the purpose, and to apply such part of taxes as was necessary for the
payment of interest; work to be commenced and water introduced within five
years from the passage of the act. It appears, by the papers of the time,
that work was commenced by the borough authorities January 1, 1829, and
continued until the summer of 1830, but no record is found giving the
location of the water supply.
On the 16th of April, 1838, the Lewistown Water Company was incorporated,
with seven hundred and fifty shares of stock, at twenty dollars per share.
The company was organized and work began on the reservoir June 7, 1839,
under the superintendence of Jacob Bearly. In the act, authority was given
the company to purchase springs, streams of water or water-power for their
purposes. A lease of springs half a mile west of the town, on the Ridge,
was obtained, and work was continued upon the reservoir and ditches until
August 12, 1839, when it was abandoned.
Subscriptions to the capital stock began in 1839 and were continued until
1843, when, by an act of Legislature, five hundred additional shares were
allowed.
On the 1st of May, 1846, a committee, appointed by the company, purchased
of David W. Hulings twelve acres of land, including the springs. Prior to
this time water was introduced into the borough from springs below this
tract, and in 1843 the first fire-plugs (six in number) were erected on
the main streets of the town. The reservoir begun in 1839 was completed,
and was fifty-three feet square at the bottom, eighty-five square at the
top and sixteen feet in depth. The waters of the Hulings or Upper Spring
were added to the supply by resolution of the board April 21, 1852. The
contract for furnishing and laying the pipe was given to A. B. Long. By
authority of an act of Legislature, April 6, 1839, the county subscribed
for sixty shares of stock and the borough one hundred and eighty shares
.On the 2d of April, 1853, the borough was authorized, by act, to elect
from the citizens of the town one who should represent their interests in
the board of management of the Water Company. The borough retained the
stock until authorized to sell, April 9, 1864. The reservoir is located
two thousand one hundred and thirteen feet below the Upper Spring. Several
springs are led to the main and add to the supply.
In July, 1865, there was reported as laid thirteen thousand eight hundred
and fifty-two feet of pipe. Since that time Chestnut, Logan and several
shorter streets have been laid with pipe. August 5, 1872, it was resolved
to issue additional stock to the amount of five thousand dollars, or as
much as was necessary to procure an abundant supply of water. Prior to the
12th a lot on the Kishacoquillas Creek, adjoining the first railroad
bridge of the Sunbury and Lewistown Railroad, was bought for three hundred
dollars from D. M. Kline. A building upon the lot was fitted for an
engine-house. An engine was purchased and pipes laid to conduct water from
the Kline lot to the terminus of the water-pipes, at the end of Valley
Street. The water is pumped from the Kishacoquillas Creek and conducted in
a six-inch pipe to a receiver on the Kline tract. In 1880 a proposal was
made to procure a supply of water from the Juniata River, as the water in
the springs was decreasing and pumping from the Kishacoquillas on the
increase. This plan has not yet been adopted and the supply of water is at
present largely drawn from the Kishacoquillas.
The officers of the company are Colonel R. H. Lee, of Logan, president ;
William Russell, treasurer; and General T. F. McCoy, secretary.
1888 "Lewistown, Pennsylvania," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.
1890 "Lewistown, Pennsylvania," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.
1891 "Lewistown, Pennsylvania," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.
1896 Harrisburg
Telegraph, November 19, 1896, Page 4.
The Italians who have been working on the grading at Cove Mountain have
nearly all gone to Lewistown to work on a reservoir.
1896 Harrisburg
Patriot, November 28, 1896, Page 1.
Foreigners Not Wanted.
Workmen on the Lewistown Water Works Kick on Italians.
Lewistown, Nov 27.--The dissatisfaction and ill feeling among the working
employed on the new water works today culminated in a strike of the
hundred or more men on account of an order reducing their wages. The
employees also demanded that all foreign laborers be discharged.
To show that they are in earnest the working drove an Italian foreman from
the works and insist that he shall remain away. Contractor Key has
not indicated what he will do in the matter. Meanwhile a patient
community will have to wait for a new water supply.
1896 Harrisburg
Telegraph, December 5, 1896, Page 1.
Tried to Blow up a House. Lewistown, Pa., Dec 5.--Unknown persons
exploded dynamite under a house occupied by Italian laborers last
night. The explosion tore up the floor and otherwise damaged the
building, but fortunately injured none of the occupants.
1897 "Lewistown, Pennsylvania," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.
1913 A History of the Juniata Valley and Its
People, Volume 1 by John Woolf Jordan
Page 136: By the act of April 10, 1826, the borough of Lewistown was
authorized to establish a system of water-works and to borrow, not to
exceed $8,000, for the purpose, the work of construction to be commenced
within five years. Work was commenced early in 1829 and continued for some
time, but the supply of water was never delivered to the people of the
town. The Lewistown Water Company was incorporated on April 16, 1838, with
a capital stock of $15,000 and power "to purchase springs, streams of
water or water-power for their purposes." Work was begun on the reservoir
in June, 1839, and it was completed in 1843, when the first hydrants were
placed on the streets. The first water came from half a mile west of the
borough limits, where some springs along Minehart's run were leased by the
company. The capital stock was increased $10,000 in 1843, and in 1846
twelve acres of land, including the springs, were purchased of David W.
Hulings. In 1865 there were about two and a half miles of pipe laid. Since
then the lines have been extended and the capital stock increased from
time to time until the company now supplies Lewistown, Burnham,
Yeagertown, Reedsville and Milroy. Besides the old source of supply at
Minehart's run, new sources have been developed at Cooper's gap, north of
Lewistown, Laurel run and Treaster's run, also north of the city. The five
distributing reservoirs established at convenient points have a capacity
of 15,000,000 gallons, and the quality of the water is unsurpassed, as
shown by analyses.
© 2016 Morris A. Pierce