For additional information contact: Kathy Allen, Administrative Specialist @ 513-591-7970

An Ohio Historical Marker recognizing Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) as the oldest publicly owned water utility in Ohio will be dedicated at 10 am Monday September 29, 2003. The marker will be placed at Sawyer Point Riverfront Park at the remains of GCWW’s first pumping station, behind the Schott Amphitheater.

The dedication ceremony will include remarks by David E. Rager, Director of GCWW, David Simmons, associate editor of Timeline magazine for the Ohio Historical Society, and Meredith Finn, Southwest Regional Representative of the Ohio Bicentennial Commission .  The ceremony will also feature GCWW employees dressed in period costumes.

On June 25, 1839, the City of Cincinnati purchased a privately-owned water company which had been in operation since 1821.  This $300,000 purchase made Cincinnati Water Works the first municipally-owned water system in Ohio.  The Water Works, with two steam pumps, 3½ miles of iron pipe and 19 miles of wooden pipe, provided one million gallons of water per day. Wooden pipes were discontinued soon after the purchase.  The Front Street Pumping Station replaced earlier facilities at this site and operated from 1865 to 1907.  The remains of this pumping station are part of the Schott Amphitheater at Sawyer Point Riverfront Park.  The marker dedication will take place at this site.

GCWW is honored to be selected for this marker and wishes to express appreciation to the Ohio Bicentennial Commission, the International Paper Company Foundation, and the Ohio Historical Society for their support and funding for this project.