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EARLY RESERVOIRS

The first springhouse was built in 1807 presumably to replace the "Stone Quarry" to which reference is made. From 1807 the growth of the town proceeded at a steady pace. More people came, no longer as individuals, as before, but as families. More homes were built. The signing of the Fort McIntosh Treaty 1785 created a more secure climate and safety. Skirmishes and open war fare continued between the settlers and the Indians, which latter the English kept prodding on from their Canadian bases and particularly Detroit. However, the conflict was removed further down the Ohio River to the territory of the falls (what are now the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky) and away from the area of the forks of the Ohio at Pittsburgh to which this area belonged.

As the population increased, so the water consumption increased and by 1812 the Council of the Borough of Beaver replaced the spring house built in 1807 with a larger structure I V x 13' and 7' in depth-a small reservoir. But the end was not yet in sight. This fast-growing community-now the seat of Beaver Countykept expanding at an accelerated rate and the Council for the third time voted to build a much larger reservoir. It was built in 1845 and is still standing in the center of the "lot."

Three years later a "reservoir" or springhouse was also constructed on the other "Water Lot" located at the northwest end of the town, now Dutch Ridge Road and Galey Blvd. The Borough fathers developed a comprehensive system of channeling the many springs into these reservoirs. From there, through pipes hollowed out of logs, the water was distributed to convenient locations downhill into wells from which people received their supply. Parts of those wooden pipes have been preserved to the present time. Some were two halves put together and held with metal braces or bands. Others were made by boring twoinch holes in logs from end to end, a tedious and difficult job considering that there were no power tools at that time. Whenever expedience demanded an open trough was used.

F. Cuming, a traveler-writer reporting on his visit to Beaver in 1810, among other observations notes that "a small market-house has since been built and after many trials a well has been sunk from which the inhabitants are supplied with water."

Wells were difficult to sink because of the sandy soil of this plateau and it must have taken many trials and much effort before a method of stabilizing the wells was found. Perhaps Mr. Cuming saw one of those latter wells. This is how Dr. Bausman describes this very same municipally-owned water works and the problem of supply in his "History of Beaver County."