GCWW History (Page 2)
In honor of our 200th anniversary in March of 2017, GCWW posted throughout the year information about its unique past on social media. The series was entitled "Splash from the Past" and has been replicated here for your enjoyment.
Quick links:
| Post 39 (3-2-17) |
Post 40 (3-9-17) |
Post 41 (3-16-17) |
Post 42 (3-23-17) |
Post 43 (3-30-17) |
Post 44 (4-13-17) |
Post 45 (4-20-17) |
Post 46 (4-27-17) |
Post 47 (5-4-17) |
Post 48 (5-11-17 |
|---|
Go to Historical Posts (Page 1)
Go to Historical Posts (Page 3)
Post 39
1937 Flood
Not only is 2017 the 200th anniversary of GCWW, but it also is the 80th anniversary of the 1937 Flood. In January 1937, the flood shut down Cincinnati Water Works (CWW) for 9 days, and plaques were placed at the River and Main Stations; permanently marking the high water level reached. Did you know? A faint stain can still be seen in the limestone at the Main Station as a result of the 1937 Flood.
Post 40
Splash from the Past History Series 40
- In 1937, the Western Hills Pumping Station and Chemical Building East were placed into service.
- In 1939, after an 85 hour experiment with water-softening, Cincinnati Water Works determined it was neither economically feasible nor aesthetically necessary.
- On November 19, 1940, the Mt. Washington Tank was placed into service.
- In 1941, the Three Mile (a.k.a Sutton Road) Reservoir and four 15,000,000 gallon-per-day electric-driven raw-water pumps were placed into service.
- The photo features Cincinnati Water Works employees during this time period.
Post 41
1942-1946 – WWII
Between the years 1942 and 1946, Cincinnati Water Works (CWW) contributed to the war effort with the supply of raw materials wherever possible. For example, after abandonment of the railroad, all steel in the viaduct over the Little Miami River and Kellogg Avenue was recovered for its use as a raw material. Similarly, the steel tank inside the Eden Park Water Tower and the conical copper roof on the elevator shaft... along with its steel supports were recovered. The old Western Hills Pumping Station’s boilers, pumping units and steel roof supporting structure were recovered.
At this time, CWW had 619 employees. When the U.S. joined the war, 78 people volunteered or were drafted for military service. While exact numbers are not available, several other employees left CWW for various war-related reasons, and new hires became virtually nonexistent. CWW essentially operated with a 25% reduction in forces while the demand for water increased by 25%.
Post 42
ORSANCO
On June 30, 1948, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) was established to control and abate pollution in the Ohio River Basin.
Today, ORSANCO is an interstate commission representing eight states and the federal government. Member states include: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
ORSANCO operates programs to improve water quality in the Ohio River and its tributaries, including setting waste water release standards; performing biological assessments; monitoring for the chemical and physical properties of the waterways; and conducting special surveys and studies. ORSANCO also coordinates emergency response activities for spills into the river, and promotes public participation in programs, such as the Ohio River Sweep and the River Watchers Volunteer Monitoring Program.
Post 43
1949 - 1952
Many Cincinnati Water Works (CWW) projects were completed from 1949 through 1952:
In 1949, the break-point chlorination facility (Chemical House West) was placed into service to add ammonia for the formation of chloramines as a disinfectant.
In 1950, the Supply Division offices moved to the partially completed Tennyson Pumping Station and the following pumping stations were placed into service:
- Winton Road Pumping Station
- California/Mt. Washington Pumping Station unit #1
- Kennedy Heights Pumping Station
In 1951 the following works were placed into service:
- Kennedy Heights Booster District
- Wardall Tank
- Clearwell No. 2
The photo features the Tennyson Pump station just before it was fully completed and placed into service.
Post 44
1952
Although the staff was already in the location; Cincinnati Water Works (CWW) Tennyson Station was officially dedicated in May 1952.
This was also the year that Main Station was converted from steam to electric. The engines ran from October 1906 to December 1952 and were fondly bid farewell by all CWW employees, especially Mr. Charlie Thomas and Mr. Rexford Price.
CWW employee Charlie Thomas created a beautiful drawing in honor of the conversion. Charlie was employed as an Oiler at the Tennyson Station, and retired GCWW employee, Paul Kraus recalls, “Mr. Thomas was a thin man who ate constantly and never sat down. He was a commercial artist before entering the service during WWII, and was the only survivor of a B-25 crash”. Mr. Kraus also fondly recollects every office window at Tennyson Station being painted by Mr. Thomas with beautiful holiday-themed artwork. The employees were always sad to see the amazing artwork washed from the windows after the first of the year.
A poem was also written in honor of the conversion, by Mr. Rexford Price. “Rex” was a CWW Water Plant Engineman from 1918 to 1955, and worked at Main Station when the conversion from steam to electric occurred.
'Twas the morning of December 2,
That we shut off the steam from 1 and 2
and Lou was sad, and he said to the gang
from now on boys-those engines won't bang.
So they cooled them down and drained them dry.
It won't be long 'til we bid them goodbye.
'Cause the junkman's coming to take them away
And we'll put in electric some future day.
The days of romance have gone out with those wheels
And I know just about how everyone feels.
But progress must keep on moving ahead
And it surely won't stop until we're all dead.
So goodbye to the engines that served us so long
We're sure going to miss them; we've heard their last bong.
They're silent and cold, and in time they'll rust
But they'll take them away, the ones we could trust
And in their place, someday we'll find
Electric pumps that don't groan and grind.
So goodbye to the engines that served many years
There won’t be any moaning or shedding of tears
And things will go on just the same as before
And the water will flow forevermore.
(by Mr. Rexford Price)
The drawing and poem are combined in the attached photo.
Post 45
1953 - 1959
- Jan. 3, 1953 – Main Station renovations began
- 1954 - The bulk carbon facility at the Chemical Building East was completed.
- Jan. 14, 1955 – The City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County entered into a 30-year contract for the delivery of water services into unincorporated areas of Hamilton County.
- 1955 – Main Station renovations were complete
- 1955 – Clifton Valve Station was placed into service
- 1957 – Work on the Ohio River Plant began
- 1958 – Main Station shops were complete
- 1958 – Winton Road Pumping Station was expanded
- 1959 – Mt. Washington Pumping Station #2 was placed into service
- 1959 – Summit Pump Station & Reservoir were placed into service
Photos: Summit Pump Station construction, and the Winton Road Pumping Station expansion.
Post 46
1959
In 1959, the new administrative office building on Spring Grove Avenue was completed and operational. The Commercial and Distribution Divisions moved into the new facilities, and it was officially dedicated on June 24, 1960, as the new Cincinnati Water Works headquarters.
Today, the administration building is called the “Chester Park Complex” in honor of the park which existed in the location before becoming Cincinnati Water Works... property.
In 1875, the location was an amusement park, and started as a destination for bicycle outings and horse races. The founder, Captain George N. Stone, named the park after one of his favorite racing horses, Lady Chester. In the center was a large lake bisected by a midway; boating was enjoyed on one side and swimming on the other. Circling the lake was the boardwalk with all the fun devices and eating places necessary to produce a carnival spirit.
In the early 1900's, Grand Opera performances took place at the park. In 1932 it closed because of an unpaid bill; many rides and concessions were dismantled. Only the swimming pool and skating rink were kept in operation; then, in 1941, these, too were abandoned.
Post 47
Early 1960's
In the early 1960’s, growth of the Cincinnati Water Works (CWW) service area required an increase in the treatment capacity and expansion of the distribution piping network to adequately supply the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The solution was to extract groundwater from the Great Miami Buried Aquifer to supply sufficient water for the demand. The proposal to develop a well field and construct a treatment facility, known... today as the Charles M. Bolton Plant was approved by City Council in March 1961. By 1962, work had begun on the Great Miami Plant (Charles M. Bolton Plant.) The work was halted by a court injunction in 1963. By 1966 the court injunction was lifted, but limited work was planned.
The photo features the beginning stage of construction on the new treatment plant.
Post 48
1961 - 1966
Between 1961 – 1966 the following Cincinnati Water Works projects were completed and placed into service.
- 1961 - Eden Park Reservoirs covering and pump station
- 1962 - Pleasant Run Tank ...
- 1962 - California 69k Electric Substation
- 1963 - Blue Ash Booster Station
- 1963 - Chemical Building West
- 1963 - The Ohio River Plant
- 1963 - Cherry Grove pump station, elevated tank, & storage tank
- 1964 - Brecon Tank
- 1965 - Western Hills Pump #5
- 1965 - Winton Road Pump #5
- 1966 - Mt. Washington Tank Renovation
Photos: Cherry Grove Tank construction; the Cherry Grove Pumps; the Brecon Tank; the Chemical Building West; the construction of the Eden Park Reservoir covering; and CWW field workers from this time period.
