Albion’s municipal water system was instituted beginning in 1889 as a result of two $50,000 municipal bond issues that passed. The water was supplied from two six-inch wells at the site, 162 feet deep. The 1893 Sanborn map stated described the site and water system at that time: “2 Hughes pumps, combined cap, 8 million gallons per 24 hours, 8 ¾ miles pipes laid in all. Stand pipe 134 feet height, 12 feet diameter.” The Water Works building operated on steam heat provided by coal, and a coal bin once stood behind the brick structure. In 1906 the plant switched to a single-stage electric pump, and in 1909, to a two-stage electric pump.
A round reservoir holding tank that contained approximately 80,000 gallons of water was constructed in front of the pump house, where the actual wells were located, according to the Sanborn map. When erecting a replacement concrete-enforced reservoir in 1909, it was discovered that the casings to the two original wells had deteriorated to the point where they had to be plugged. The new reservoir held 250,000 gallons of water. Three new 8-inch wells were thereby drilled, 100 feet deep to supply the city with its water. By 1912 a few years later, the city was pumping an average of 13 to 19 million gallons a month from this site.
The water pressure and volume were supplied by the standpipe that was constructed in 1889 on the highest point in town, today’s Crowell Park, next to where today’s water tower sits today. This provided water pressure of 80 pounds to the square inch.
As Albion expanded and grew, the city erected a new pumping station which opened in 1916 on N. Albion St. The E. Cass St. location was then used as a back-up well in case of failures. The standpipe in Crowell Park was toppled on February 26, 1962, upon the completion of a new water tower that is still there today. The reservoir tank in front of the Water Works building was demolished on November 8, 1961.
The Albion Water Works building became the home of the Albion Recycling Center from the 1970s into the 1990s. It was operated by Truman Barnes and a host of community volunteers. Today the building still stands, and is now privately owned.
From our Historical Notebook this week we present a classic photo, circa 1907, of the Albion Water Works building and the well reservoir tank in front of it. Notice the smoke coming from the smokestack, and the Albion Lumber Company on the right side of this photo. How many of our readers have ever been in this building before?
