Demolition Croton Distributing Reservoir

a remnant of reservoir can still seen today @ foundation of south court of new york public library main branch.



vestiges of croton distributing reservoir embedded in foundation of new york public library main branch

the croton distributing reservoir torn down @ end of century; in 1890s. today, main branch of new york public library , bryant park exist @ location. of reservoir s original foundation can still found in south court @ new york public library. today water supplied new york city via 3 city water tunnels. central park reservoir still remains, since 1993 has no longer been in use.

subway commuters can see historical photographs showing former reservoir. display located on wall in underground passageway connects fifth avenue station on irt flushing line , 42nd street station on ind sixth avenue line. few years before reservoir torn down, there 2 tablets affixed reservoir. inscription was:

historical , descriptive account of croton aqueduct – law authorizing construction of work, passed may 2nd, 1834. stephen allen, william w. fox, saul alley, charles dusenberry , benjamin m. brown appointed commissioners. during year 1834, 2 surveys made—one david b. douglass , other john martineau. in april, 1835, majority of electors of city voted in favour of constructing aqueduct. on 7th may following, _common council_ instructed commissioners proceed work. david b. douglass employed chief engineer until october, 1836; when succeeded john b. jervis. in march, 1837, benjamin m. brown resigned, , succeeded thomas t. woodruff. in march, 1840, before mentioned commissioners succeeded samuel stevens, john d. ward, zevedee ring, benjamin birdsall , samuel r. childs. work commenced in may, 1837. on 22nd june, 1842, aqueduct far completed received water croton river lake; on 27th water entered receiving reservoir , admitted reservoir on succeeding 4th of july. dam @ croton river 40 feet high, , overfall 251 feet in length. croton river lake 5 miles long, , covers area of 400 acres. aqueduct, dam reservoir, 40½ miles long, , deliver in twenty-four hours 60,000,000 imperial gallons. capacity of receiving reservoir 150,000,000 gallons, , of reservoir 20,000,000. cost, , including reservoir, $9,000,000.

the second tablet stated:

croton aqueduct – distributing reservoir – commissioners:

samuel stevens

zebedee ring

john d. ward

benj^n birdsall

samuel r. childs



engineers:

john b. jervis. chief.

h^o allen, prin^l assist.

p. hastie, resident.

builders:

thomson price & son.

commenced a. d. mdcccxxxviii.

completed a. d. mdcccxlii.