As explained in the nomination to place the Tallahassee’s Old City Waterworks on the National Register of Historic Places, the structure “is a visible symbol of the concern and sense of civic responsibility exhibited by many municipal governments” at the turn of the twentieth century.[1] Tallahasseans relied on wells and cisterns for their water supply until 1890. The Philadelphia-based American Pipe and Manufacturing Company established the Tallahassee Water Works Company that year and created the city’s first water system.[2] Many cities in Europe and the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries purchased local utilities, and Tallahassee began contemplating public ownership of the water system in 1906.[3] After a municipal election on the question, the city purchased the water works system from the Tallahassee Water Works Company for $75,000 in 1908.[4]
Administration of the new pubic utility evolved in the next dozen years. Initially the city delegated supervisory responsibility to its Board of Managers. In 1911, it rearranged the administration of utilities and the Board of Public Works took over management. By 1915, that board had greater autonomy and the power to make financial decisions without political interference. In 1920, the newly created City Manager became responsible for the water works .
During the 1910s, the city made a number of improvements to the water system and faced a number of operational issues. In 1915 it began construction on a concrete water “reservoir,” now referred to as ground storage tanks. In 1917, the city replaced some of the steam-powered pumps with electric ones, although it continued to use compressed air to power two of the pumps.[5] During World War I, the power plant lacked enough fuel to generate electricity, which was necessary for running the water works’ machinery. This problem led to sporadic outages that interrupted service.[6] The expense of maintaining the system caused the City Council to occasionally consider privatizing it, a measure that would have required changing the city charter. By 1919, however, the water works was profitable and a sense of routine began to develop.[7] Within a year the city implemented monthly meter readings.[8]
Pressures upon the system and ailing equipment led the city to build a new well (Well No. 5) in the late 1920s.[9] Unlike its predecessors, Well No. 5 used a horizontal pump instead of a vertical shaft pump. In addition, the pump was situated almost 100 feet below ground; employees took an elevator down to service it. Once it was complete in 1931, Well No. 5 became the main mechanism for delivering water to the city’s 1,562 customers.[10] Well No. 5 remained in use until the construction of a new state office building adjacent to the water works in 1958 caused damage to it.[11]
After the city ceased to use the site as a waterworks, it used the structure for storage. Overtime, however, it fell into despair. In the early 1990s, the city and state allocated funds that supported a stabilization project. Once stabilized, the city hoped to use the facility for either office space or to be leased to a community organization.
[1] National Register Nomination for the Old City Waterworks: http://focus.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/nrhp/text/79000680.pdf
[2] William G. Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, Pre 1860-1920: A Reference Work With Comment (privately published, 2014): 15.
[3] “City Council Meeting,” Weekly True Democrat July 13, 1906, in Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, 215
[4] City Council Minutes October, 8, 1908, in Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, 273
[5] William F. Jacobs “Water-From Cornfield to State Capitol,” 4; folder “Capitol Center Waterworks-Research, R.R. 4.49,” Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation (TTHP)
[6] Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, 670 and 688.
[7] Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, Pre 1860-1920: A Reference Work With Comment (privately published, 2014): 670 and 714.
[8] William G. Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, 709.
[9] Jacobs “Water-From Cornfield to State Capitol,” 7 (TTHP)
[10] Jacobs “Water-From Cornfield to State Capitol,” 7(TTHP)
[11] National Register Nomination for the Old City Waterworks: http://focus.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/nrhp/text/79000680.pdf; Jacobs “Water-From Cornfield to State Capitol,” 10(TTHP)
Administration of the new pubic utility evolved in the next dozen years. Initially the city delegated supervisory responsibility to its Board of Managers. In 1911, it rearranged the administration of utilities and the Board of Public Works took over management. By 1915, that board had greater autonomy and the power to make financial decisions without political interference. In 1920, the newly created City Manager became responsible for the water works .
During the 1910s, the city made a number of improvements to the water system and faced a number of operational issues. In 1915 it began construction on a concrete water “reservoir,” now referred to as ground storage tanks. In 1917, the city replaced some of the steam-powered pumps with electric ones, although it continued to use compressed air to power two of the pumps.[5] During World War I, the power plant lacked enough fuel to generate electricity, which was necessary for running the water works’ machinery. This problem led to sporadic outages that interrupted service.[6] The expense of maintaining the system caused the City Council to occasionally consider privatizing it, a measure that would have required changing the city charter. By 1919, however, the water works was profitable and a sense of routine began to develop.[7] Within a year the city implemented monthly meter readings.[8]
Pressures upon the system and ailing equipment led the city to build a new well (Well No. 5) in the late 1920s.[9] Unlike its predecessors, Well No. 5 used a horizontal pump instead of a vertical shaft pump. In addition, the pump was situated almost 100 feet below ground; employees took an elevator down to service it. Once it was complete in 1931, Well No. 5 became the main mechanism for delivering water to the city’s 1,562 customers.[10] Well No. 5 remained in use until the construction of a new state office building adjacent to the water works in 1958 caused damage to it.[11]
After the city ceased to use the site as a waterworks, it used the structure for storage. Overtime, however, it fell into despair. In the early 1990s, the city and state allocated funds that supported a stabilization project. Once stabilized, the city hoped to use the facility for either office space or to be leased to a community organization.
[1] National Register Nomination for the Old City Waterworks: http://focus.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/nrhp/text/79000680.pdf
[2] William G. Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, Pre 1860-1920: A Reference Work With Comment (privately published, 2014): 15.
[3] “City Council Meeting,” Weekly True Democrat July 13, 1906, in Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, 215
[4] City Council Minutes October, 8, 1908, in Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, 273
[5] William F. Jacobs “Water-From Cornfield to State Capitol,” 4; folder “Capitol Center Waterworks-Research, R.R. 4.49,” Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation (TTHP)
[6] Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, 670 and 688.
[7] Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, Pre 1860-1920: A Reference Work With Comment (privately published, 2014): 670 and 714.
[8] William G. Leseman, History of the Tallahassee, Florida Public Water System, 709.
[9] Jacobs “Water-From Cornfield to State Capitol,” 7 (TTHP)
[10] Jacobs “Water-From Cornfield to State Capitol,” 7(TTHP)
[11] National Register Nomination for the Old City Waterworks: http://focus.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/nrhp/text/79000680.pdf; Jacobs “Water-From Cornfield to State Capitol,” 10(TTHP)
