Documentary History of American Water-works

Pottsville

Pottsville, Pennsylvania

Pottsville was founded in 1806.

The Pottsville Water Company was incorporated in 1834 by Samuel Sillyman, William Mortimore, John C. Offerman, John C. Ernst, Benjamin Bannan, Jacob Seitzinger Esq., James M. Beatty, Charles Miller and Andrew Russel "to proceed to bring and convey into the borough of Pottsville." The company built a gravity system that began service in October, 1836 and provided water for nearly twenty years until local growth and financial stress caused the company to seek support from the town of Pottsville. The company was rechartered in 1854, with Strange N. Palmer, Charles W. Pitman, Daniel Shartle, Bernard Reily, Ben Pott, Charles Lord, Jacob Huntzinger Jr., William Johns and Jonathan Johnson appointed as commissioners to sell the additional authorized stock, which allowed the company to expand its supply and distribution.

The company endured a threatened dam break in 1892 as well as several droughts. Water service was expanded to serve several other nearby communities. A proposed rate increase in 1960 led to a movement for public ownership.

The Schuylkill County Municipal Authority was formed by the Schuylkill County Commissioners on August 22, 1961. The authority purchased the Pottsville Water Company on December 20, 1962 for $7,622,000.

Water service is provided by the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, which has a history page. The Pottsville Water Company also published a corporate history on their centennial in 1934, which is included below.

References
1834 An act authorizing the governor to incorporate the Pottsville Water Company. April 11, 1834.

1836 A further supplement to the act entitled “An act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Northampton Water Company,” and for other purposes.” March 21, 1836. Section 10 relates to the Pottsville Water Company.

1849 A supplement to the act incorporating the Pottsville water company, approved the eleventh day of April, Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four. February 12, 1849.

1854 A supplement to the act incorporating the Pottsville Water Company, approved the eleventh day of April, Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four. February 18, 1854.

1855 A further supplement to an act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Pottsvillc Water Company, approved the eleventh day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-lour. April 12, 1855.

1860 A supplement to the several acts incorporating the Pottsville Water Company. April 2, 1860.

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

1883 Pottsville, Engineering News, 10:52 (February 3, 1883)

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

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

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

1892 "A Dam Danger. The Reservoir in a Bad Way. People in the Schuylkill Valley Take to the Hills," Harrisburg Telegraph, June 21, 1892, Page 1.

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

1899 "Another Power Mill Explosion - The Plant of the Pottsville Water Company is Wrecked-- 18 Tons of Powder Lost," The Scranton Tribune, May 8, 1899, Page 1.

1908 "Pottsville's Water Supply Exhausted," Mount Carmel Item, October 17, 1908, Page 1.

1911 "Water Stock Doubles," Mount Carmel Item, November 22, 1911, Page 1.

1934 A Century of Public Service: The Pottsville Water Company, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, 1834-1934.

1962 "County Takes over Pottsville Water Co.," Standard-Speaker, December 22, 1962, Page 20.
The Schuylkill County Municipal Water Authority Thursday officially took over control of the Pottsville Water Company assets.