Documentary History of American Water-works

Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Murfreesboro was settled in 1811.

The first water works in Murfreesboro was built by the city in 1833 using a horse-powered cart drawn up a wooden railway to deliver tubes of water into a reservoir, from which it was distributed through wooden logs. This was probably the only known example of this method of elevating water, and it did not last long.

The city built a fire protection system in 1888 using direct pumping, No other details are known about this system.

The Murfreesboro Water-Works Company built a system that began service in April, 1891 pumping water to a standpipe using steam engines. This company was acquired by the Murfreesboro Water Company in 1914, and it in turn was bought by the city of Murfreesboro in 1921 for $130,000.

Water is provided by the City of Murfreesboro.

References
1886 History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Montgomery, Robertson, Humphreys, Stewart, Dickson, Cheatham and Houston Counties
Page 828: In 1833 a report was made to the city council on the feasibility of establishing a system of water-works. A favorable report was,made and the estimated cost was $1,000. It was proposed to raise the water from the Sand Spring in large tubs, to be conveyed to the top of Capitol Hill upon a wooden railway; the same to be elevated by horse-power. The water was‘to be led from Capitol Hill, by cedar tubes, into an air-tight tank in the court-yard square; thence, by hydrants, to the places of business. The work was completed and the Rose Water-Works were set in operation. After a short time they were found to be a failure.

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

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

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

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

1913 "Murfreesboro may acquire water system," Engineering and Contracting, 40:43 (1913)

1914 "Property of the Murfreesboro, Tenn., Water Works Company Changes Hands," Fire and Water Engineering, 55:157 (March 11, 1914)

1914 "Murfreesboro Water Co. is Incorporated," The Tennessean, March 28, 1914, Page 5.

1921 Commercial and Financial Chronicle 112:767 (February 19, 1921)
Town will vote on buying water plant - The Nashville Banner of Feb 10 states that "The present franchise of the Murfreesboro Water Company will soon expire, and it has been a question very much discussed as to whether the city would renew the franchise or buy the plant. The city commissioners have asked the commissioners of elections to call an election for the purpose of ascertaining the sentiment of the people on the subject, and in compliance the election commissioners have set Thursday, March 10, as the date for holding the election."

1931 An act to approve, ratify, confirm and validate a bond issue of the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennes- see, in the sum of $130,000.00 made by the City Council of the City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, which said bonds are dated October 1, 1921. February 4, 1931.