The Water Works Well
A picture of the original Water Works well c1941, located just east of the still-existing Water Works building at Eleventh St. and Cherry Valley Ave. The well was constructed starting in 1873. Its location was chosen to be in the valley low ground where the water table was closest to the surface. The 50-foot diameter structure was hand-dug by building a stone wall on top of a wooden ring that sank as excavation progressed beneath it. Water was encountered about 14 feet below the surface, and had to be pumped out while the walls were extended to a lower depth, ultimately 35 feet. The well and the adjacent pumping station was completed in October 1876, capable of supplying 2.5 million gallons per day. The water was so pure that for a time it was also bottled for sale. This ended when the water began to be contaminated by the new adjacent gas works to its west. In 1897 the well was taken out of service, but later used as a storage resevoir for adjacent deep wells.
In 1958 the minimum quarterly charge for the first 3,000 cuft was $2.54, and the minimum $5.00/month. Today the first 2,000 cuft is $30.15 and the minimum is $60.50
Original Well #1 was demolished in 1957. The Village now has ten wells in operation. Wells #2-#6 have also been decommissioned. Well #7 is at the Water Works, well #9 next to Edgemere Park, wells #8 and #12 at the GC Golf Club, wells #10 and #11 on Clinton Rd., wells #13 and #14 at the GC Country Club, and wells #15 and #16 next to Hilton Park on Second St.. Their depths are 400-600 feet, and access the Magothy aquifer.
Archives identifier: pwwtr08
Comments or questions:
email Historian@gardencityny.net –
Wm. Bellmer
A selection from the extensive Village Archives. Others can be seen at www.NYHeritage.org – click on Organizations, G, and Garden City Public Library. Comments/questions: email Historian@gardencityny.net – Wm. Bellmer
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