Documentary History of American Water-works

Northfield

Northfield, Vermont

Northfield was chartered in 1781 and incorporated as a village in 1855. The village and town of Northfield merged on July 1, 2014.

The Northfield Aqueduct Company was originally formed under the Vermont general laws at an unknown date and incorporated in 1856 "for the purpose of constructing and maintaining an aqueduct for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of the village of Northfield with water for domestic and other purposes." The company was authorized to hold real and personal estate at a value not exceed $5,000.

The Fountain Aqueduct Company was incorporated in 1867 by Charles P. Kimball, George M. Fisk, Jasper H. Orcutt, Elbridge G. Pierce, Hopson Barker, George Nichols, Charles A. Edgerton and William C. Woodbury "for the purpose of constructing and maintaining an aqueduct to supply the inhabitants living in and near to the village of Northfield, with water for domestic and other purposes." The company was authorized to hold real and personal estate at a value not exceed $50,000.

The Emerson Aqueduct Company was incorporated in 1874 with a capital stock of $2,500 by Thomas Emerson and Esther Emerson, of Northfield, in the county of Washington and state of Vermont, and Charles W. Emerson, of Fitchburgh, county of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts "for the purpose of constructing and maintaining an aqueduct or aqueducts to supply the inhabitants of the village of Northfield, and the inhabitants of the outlying and adjacent territory, with water for domestic and culinary purposes."

The Northfield House Aqueduct Company was incorporated in 1882 "for the purpose of constructing and maintaining an aqueduct, for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of the village of Northfield with water for domestic and other purposes," and was authorized to hold real and personal estate not exceeding $5,000. The first meeting was to be at a time and located set by G. M. Fisk. An 1888 amendment added the names of I. N. Jenks or W. N. Richardson to that of Fisk.

The village of Northfield was authorized to built water works in 1890.

The Andrews Aqueduct Company was incorporated in 1896 with a capital stock of $25,000 by Gilbert R. Andrews, Arthur G. Andrews and Weltha A. Perrin "for the purpose of furnishing the village of Northfield, in the town of Northfield, and the inhabitants thereof and the inhabitants of the outlying and adjacent territory with water for domestic, sanitary, and other purposes."

The Prospect Street Aqueduct Company of Northfield was incorporated in 1898 with a capital stock of $25,000 Frank Plumley, Fred A. Jones, and Charles M. Davis "for the purpose of furnishing the village of Northfield, and the inhabitants thereof and the inhabitants of the outlying and adjacent territory with water for domestic, sanitary and other purposes."

James M. Holland had established the Holland water system in Northfield, which was bought by the Andrews Aqueduct Company around 1904.

The village bought the Andrews Aqueduct Company in 1905 and the Northfield Aqueduct Company in 1915.

Water is supplied by the Town of Northfield.

References
1856 An act to incorporate the Northfield Aqueduct Company. November 18, 1856.

1867 An act to incorporate the Fountain Aqueduct Company. November 21, 1867.

1870 An act to revive the charter of the Fountain Aqueduct Company, approved November 21, 1867. November 8, 1870.

1874 An act to incorporate the Emerson Aqueduct Company. November 24, 1874.

1882 An act to incorporate the Northfield House Aqueduct Company. November 29, 1882.

1888 An act to amend an act to incorporate the Northfield House Aqueduct Company, approved November 29, 1882. November 27, 1888.

1890 An act to empower the village of Northfield to bring water into said village and to issue bonds for that purpose. November 13, 1890.

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

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

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

1891 Industries and Wealth of the Principal Points in Vermont
Page 211: Northfield, Vermont. The village is supplied with water by the Northfield Aqueduct Co., and the Emerson Aqueduct Co., at reasonable rates.

1896 An act to incorporate the Andrews Aqueduct Company. November 23, 1896.

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

1898 An act to incorporate Prospect Street Aqueduct Company of Northfield. November 29, 1898.

1904 Report of the State Board of Health of the State of Vermont from January 1, 1902 to December 31, 1903.
Page 185: Northfield Aqueduct Company, The Andrews Aqueduct Company.

1904 An act to amend an act entitled an act to incorporate the Andrews Aqueduct Company, approved November 23, 1896. November 30, 1904.

1905 The Burlington Free Press, April 6, 1905, Page 5.
Northfield. No definite action on Water System at Village Meeting.
The Andrews Aqueduct company presented a proposition whereby they would sell their system to the village for $25,000. James H. Holland presented a proposition for installing a hydrant system in the village with water from Mill hill, the water to be used for domestic purposes at $6.25 per year per house, the hydrants to cost $25 per hydrant per year. After much discussion regarding the two propositions the matter was left to the water committee to investigate and report at a future meeting. Last year the village held an option on the Holland water system and made a deal with James M. Holland, the president, that the property was to be transferred to the village when a clear title could be given. In the meantime the Andrews Aqueduct company bought the system from Holland. Arthur Andrews was appointed as agent, to investigate this matter, and employ competent legal advise and report at the next meeting.

1905 The Burlington Free Press, April 27, 1905, Page 9.
Northfield votes to buy a water system. The special water committee reported in favor of the purpose of the Andrews Aqueduct company's springs and water rights if a price could be agreed upon. Dr. W. B. Mayo moved that the village offer the company $18,500 for the plant. The members of the company were present and after a brief consultation they decided to accept the offer of the village as of May 1.

1905 The Burlington Free Press, May 4, 1905, Page 5.
Northfield. Village to install a Complete Water System.

1906 Report of the State Geologist on the Mineral Industries and Geology of Vermont, Volume 5
Page 334: Northfield. The village is supplied by two Companies. The Northfield Aqueduct Company take water from four springs and a brook a mile and a quarter from the town and five hundred feet above it. There is no reservoir but the water is piped directly. The water is very soft and otherwise good. The Andrews Aqueduct Company take their water from springs on hills east of the town about a mile and a half distant and a thousand feet above it. There is no reservoir. The water is harder than that of the other company, though not very hard.

1906 An act to amend Section 5 of No. 198 of the Acts of 1898, entitled "An act to amend the act incorporating the village of Northfield," approved November 14, 1855. December 7, 1906.

1916 Report of the State Board of Health of the State of Vermont from January 1, 1914 to December 31, 1915.
Page 60: Northfield. The supply is by gravity from mountain springs. The system includes two reservoirs. the watershed is not inhabited where the drainage could affect the water. The system is owned by the Village of Northfield. There was formerly a second system known as the Northfield Aqueduct Company. This was purchased by the village in 1915. On account of the higher pressure the new system could not be connected with the other, therefore they are operated as independent systems.