From 1845 to 1886, this stone
reservoir at FifthAgainst this reported high living is the evidence in the Western Pennsylvania Business Directory of 1837 account noting: "Two churches, two Sabbath schools, numerously attended, also a Temperance Society, pretty numerous".
Much of the concern of the early town councils of Beaver centered on improving the water supply, electing watermen to see that it was collected at the springs, then piped into the distributing points in the town through pipes made of hollowed logs.
The early town fathers also built the first reservoir in 1845, ordered shade trees for the public parks in 1864, contracted for gas lights in 187 1, authorized the stringing of telephone lines in 1879, had Third Street paved and sidewalks installed in 1881 (against some objections), and installed the first pumping station that same year.
In between times, they heard objections (1837) to an ordinance forbidding horses, swine, geese, and sheep running loose, bought the present cemetery in 1865, and in 1861 spent $200 to buy an eight-pound cannon and form a home defense guard of 40 men.
By 1840, the Hamilton Brothers in Bridgewater were making stone ware pottery, and between 1870 and 1895 Vanport was a concentration of potting sheds. John Davis, Jr., the Fowlers, Henry Urta, Calvin McKenzie, Albert Russell, George Weaver, and the Waggoner brothers, were making primitive pottery which is now highly sought. In the same area, the Vanport Brick, Welsh, Glonninger and Conway, the Douglas Fire Brick, and George Dando were all going brick making concerns.
The lumber and building business flourished in Beaver, with the John Harton Company at Insurance and Canal; Tallon and Farr at Branch Alley and Turnpike; Jonathon McKenzie and Sons, and Cook-Anderson, one of the leading building and woodworking firms in Western Pennsylvania from 1894 to 1970.
From 1845 to 1886, this stone
reservoir at Fifth
and Wayne Streets provided a steady source of
spring-fed water to the town through hollowed-out
logs.
Beaver has many distinctive
landmarks, but none are more
unique than the two water
fountains, designed for people,
horses and small animals.
Home of John Dravo on River Road as it
appeared in 1900: in use today as a multiple
dwelling.