Do You Know This Building?
Answers: Early residents of Fort Collins obtained their water directly from the Cache la Poudre River by means of buckets or water wagons. As more people settled in the area, this source became less safe. In addition to concerns over diphtheria and typhoid outbreaks, there were fire safety issues that challenged the abilities of the bucket brigade. The destruction of several prominent buildings to fire mobilized the citizens to pass a bond in 1882, enabling the construction of the town’s first filtered and pressurized water system. Construction on the elongated brick building began in November of that year and was conducted in three phases. The first section containing the pump house was completed in 1883, the second section housing the steam plant in 1884, and the third section containing a filtering system in 1895. Sandstone from the nearby Stout Quarry, now submerged under Horsetooth Reservoir, was used for windowsills, lintels and doorsills in the two earliest sections. The facility required an on-site caretaker, resulting in the construction of three additional buildings—a house, barn and chicken coop. Water, diverted from the river, flowed through an open canal three quarters of a mile to the pump house. Four pumps, each having a capacity of 1-1/2 million gallons per day and driven by two 75-horsepower turbines, forced the water through over 43,000 feet of water lines. The system serviced the entire downtown area plus several adjoining blocks. It remained the town’s primary source of water until 1905, when a new, more technologically advanced, water treatment plant was constructed. The original waterworks provided back up for the new plant until 1916, when it was relegated for use as storage and maintenance facility and its equipment sold. An excellent example of late 19th century industrial architecture, the Fort Collins Waterworks played a pivotal role in the establishment of the city’s first public works facility. It is listed in the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties and State Historical Fund grants have assisted with a historic structure assessment, an interpretive brochure and wall stabilization. |
