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."