Fairmount Water Works Esplanade Walkway exhibits Final report

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

File #CZI:93.02PD

Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program
(Fairmount Water Works
Esplanade Walkway Exhibits
Final Report

@Nw

Bronzefisherynan, "A Celebration of Water," an exhibit
on the Fairmount Water Works Esplanade Walkway.

Prepared by the Philadelphia Water Department
Philadelphia, PA
September, 1994

Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program

Fairmount Water Works Esplanade Walkway Exhl bits

Final Report

September, 1994

Grant Task No. CZI:93.02PD
ME No. 93190

A REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES TO THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION PURSUANT TO
@n NOAA AWARD NO, NA370ZO351

00astat

PENNSYLVANIA
mom
lon

Project was financed in part through a federal Coastal Zone Management
Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, with
funds provided by the NOAA. The views expressed herein are those of the
author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or any of its
subagencies.
(111, A.'4 0 Ile

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SITE PLAN SHOWING EXHIBIT AREA ............................ 2

PROJECT BACKGROUND ..................................... 3

PROJECT REPORT .......................................... 5

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS OF THE EXHIBITS ..................... 8

FINAL EXHIBIT DESIGNS ..................................... 10

PHOTOGRAPHS OF EXHIBIT INSTALIATIONS ...................... 14

PHILADELPHIA
MUSEUM OF ART

/fill
J

WATER WORKS
INTERPRET
IVE CENTER

HISTORIC FAIRMOUNT WATERWORKS WATER WORKS
ESPLANADE
ESPANADE WALKWAY EXHlBIT9
SCHUYLKILL RIVER

File #CZ1: 93.02PD
SITE PLAN

ESPLANADE WALKWAY EXHIBITS FINAL REPORT: CZ1:93.02PD

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Philadelphia Water Department (PVVD) began as the Watering Committee

in 1798, charged with providing the City with a pure and plentiful supply of

water. Today it recognizes that an important part of the charge is to educate

the public about the fragility of this vital natural resource.

In 1986, the Water Department, with assistance from the Coastal Zone

Management (CZM) Program, began the groundwork for a museum and public

education center at the historic Fairmount Water Works, The Water Works, a

National Historic Landmark, is owned by the City of Philadelphia and

administered by the Fairmount Park Commission. The space in the Engine

House which contains the historic pumping machinery and the adjacent Water

Works Esplanade have been dedicated to the Water Department for the

Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center.

The mission if the Interpretive Center is educate the public on the pivotal role

of the Water Works in the nineteenth century and to take advantage of the

exceptional location to explore the fragile relationship between the urban and

natural environment, raising public awareness about the need for wiser

management of coastal resources to improve the quality of Pennsylvania's

water resources.

The Interpretive Center is committed to attracting and serving a culturally

diverse audience which includes inner-city school children, educators,

community organizations, special interest groups, and senior citizens as well

as the casual visitor. Although the site is in the process of being restored and

the Interpretive Center space is unfinished, nearly 20,000 people have

participated in the Center's programs and visited its exhibits since 199 1. The

success of these programs and exhibits has confirmed the value of the use of

the Fairmount Water Works to communicate to the general public relatively

sophisticated ideas about urban development, technology, and the natural

environment.

The installation of interpretive exhibits on the Fairmount Water Works

Esplanade Walkway has provided the Interpretive Center with an outdoor

classroom and gallery space along which the public may explore, firsthand,

Philadelphia's vital water resources.

The walkway plan is based on a 1989 CZM funded design by Tourbier &

Walmsley, Inc. (TWI) for an Interpretive Esplanade. The working drawings and

specifications submitted earlier and used for the fabrication and installation of

the walkway exhibits were produced by TWI and are faithful to that original

1989 design.

PROJECT REPORT OCTOBER 1993 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1994

October 1993 through March 1994: Contract No. CZI:93.02PD between the

City of Philadelphia Water Department and the Department of Environmental

Resources, Bureau of Land and Water Conservation was executed.

A Personal Services contract between PWD and the firm of Tourbier &

Wamsley, Inc. of New York City and Philadelphia was negotiated, executed, and

conformed. Anthony Walmsley, ASLS, AICP, a principal in the firm, conceived

the original designs for the Interpretive Esplanade and its Wayside Stations

(exhibits) under a 1989 CZM-funded grant. PVVTD was pleased to be able to

retain the original designer, assuring continuity of design and vision for the

project.

March through May, 1994: The design process began in earnest. In a series of

three meetings the texts for Wayside Stationsl, 3 and 4, and for the

Introduction panel were refined, edited, and finalized. Images for the Wayside

Stations were located, borrowed if necessary, and modified to balance the

overall interpretive intent and visual effect. 'fWI had subcontracted the

fabrication to Sears Iron Works of Ottsville, Pennsylvania which was

represented at these meetings to assure that the design elements selected could

be reasonably produced.

Images and artifacts from the collections of the American Philosophical Society

and The Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia, the Hagley

Museum and Library in Delaware, and the New Jersey State Museum in

Trenton were incorporated into the Wayside Station designs. All these

institutions have been credited in the introduction panel. Final design

drawings were sent to CZM for approval.

June through September 1994: A camera-ready positive (2600 dots/inch) of the

approved designs were sent to the Sheidow Bronze Co., Kingswood, West

Virginia. From these positives photographic transparencies of each of three

Wayside Station designs and the Introduction panel were made and transferred

to polyfilm, creating patterns. The patterns were backed to the desired

thickness, then sent to the sandcasting department where sand molds were

made. The molds then went to the foundry where they were cast into bronze

plaques, sandblasted, and finished. In the meantime, original Lenape fishing

implements borrowed from the New Jersey State Museum were cast locally to

be attached to the bronze plaque of Station I during installation.

On the Esplanade itself, the words "WATER FOR THE CITY" were sandblasted

in the concrete pavement around the circular bench of Station 3. The knock-

out panels for Stations 1 and 3 were removed from the Walkway, and holes for

the Introduction Panel and Stations I and 3 were excavated. A "French" drain

was dug for Station 1 and concrete pads for all four exhibits were poured.

(Station 4's pad was poured above the walkway level on an existing concrete

pad covering an abandoned sewer manhole).

The granite frame of Station 1 produced at H.C. Wood Monuments in

Lansdowne, PA was laid, and each of the four bronze plaques were installed on

the concrete pads, secured by pins and an epoxy and concrete mixture. A brick

paving "frame" was laid around the Introduction Panel and the site was

cleaned.

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS OF THE EXHIBITS

The Introduction panel, Philadelphia and the SchLiylkill River, is a plaque cast

of bronze located at the top of the stairs leading down to the river-side

Esplanade. The panel text introduces the main interpretive goal of the

Esplanade, the relationship between man and the Schuylkill River. In

addition, it recognizes the agencies and institutions whose generosity has

made this project possible.

Station 1, Lenape Seasonal Fishing Camp, begins the interpretation of the site

describing and illustrating man's earliest use of the Schuylkill River for

transportation and food. This exhibit is recessed and represents an

archaeological dig complete with a meter stick and outline of the "dug"

quadrant represented in a granite block frame. A bronze plaque set within the

granite frame includes text describing how the Lenape fished and features cast

66 artifacts" which archaeologists might find, were they to excavate a Lenape

fishing camp along the river. These cast "artifacts" are chelt or axe blade,

sinkers from a fishing net, and sharpened points or arrow heads.

Station 3, Water For The City: The Centre Square Waterworks, describes the

first time Philadelphians harnessed the water of the Schuylkill River for

drinking, cleaning, and fire-fighting. A bronze plaque with an image of the

interior of the Centre Square waterworks includes text which describes the

innovative technology which ultimately lead to the failure of that system and

the building of the Fairmount Water Works.

Station 4, Water For The City: The Fairmount Water Works is a bronze plaque

with images of the waterwheels and turbines, the two technologies used during

the "Golden Age" of Philadelphia's second and most famous pumping station.

The text describes the social implications of bring water to Philadelphia during

the Nineteenth century.

Station #0
set at 10% of the final size
set in Galliard bold
5/31/94

SRS-1

Philadelphia and the Schuylkill River

The Schurylkill River has shaped human nineteenth century, to todays's renewed
activity for thousands of years. As their respect for the river's life-giving qualities.
times and cultures differed, peoples' daily
use of the Schurylkill differed. One thing These exhibits were made possible by the
was constant: all left traces of their lives on Philadelphia Water department and
the river. Indeed, the rive's name itself through federal Coastal Zone Manage-
(pronounced "skool-kill") shown the influ- ment grants from the Pennsylvania
ence of early Dutch settlers; in their native Department of Environmental Resources
E language, "schuilkil" means "hidden with funds provided by the National
creek." Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce. Co-
The exhibits you see along the Esplanade operating institutions were the American
are imaginary, but faithful, re-creations Philosophical Society, The Franklin
showing how people and the Schuylkill Institute Science Museum, the Hagley
have made their way together over the Museum and Library, the New Jersey
years-from the time of the Lenape people, State Museum, and the Philadelphia
through the explosive urban growth of the Flower Show, Inc.

Station #1
set at 10% of the final size
set in Galliard bold
5/31/94

SRS-2

Food from the
River, about 1400

Native Americans, beginning around 12,000 years ago, used the
Schuylkill for food and transportation, leaving
a faint mark on the river and its history.
The Lenape people practiced a mixed
economy of farming, hunting, dad fishing.
They fished the river intensively from
Much to May, when it teemed with shad
and other fish. Lenape men caught them by
any means they could - with nets, traps, books
and spun. Their families cooked and preserved the catch for we
in winter months. The dig shown here contains worked
stones. They are an axe head, arrow heads, and a
pile of sinkers that held a rope-like net under
the riven surface. The vegetable fiber
net has long since decayed.

Station #3
set at 10% of the final size
set in Galliard bold
6/20/94

srs-3

The First Water Works, 1801-1815

Philadelphians in 1800 drew water from the river to a
their water from backyard water tunnel under Chest-
and public wells, which were nut Street, then raised the
often close to household pri- water to elevated tanks in
E vies. Worried about polluted Centre Square (where City
wells, the City Councils Hall now stands). Gravity
engaged a young English forced the water from the
architect/engineer, Benjamin tanks through wooden
Henry Latrobe, to design a pipes to homes, businesses
E better system. and public hydrants. Even
though this system failed-
Latrobe's pioneering water- it was too small, too costly
works called for steam eng- to run, too undependable-
ines, a new source of power. CENTRE SQUARE WATER WORKS the City's next waterworks
Steam engines pumped also ran on steam.

station #4
set at 10% of final size
set in Galliard bold

SRS-4

Fairmount Water Works, 1815-1909

Frederick Graff, once Latrobe's refreshment saloon and public
assistant, designed the Fairmount gardens added to the attraction.
Water Works, which first served These gardens were the beginning
Philadelphia in 1815. It featured of Fairmount Park, established to
reservoirs atop Paire Mount, now protect the water supply from
the site of the Art Museum. River pollution and to provide public
water pumped into the reservoirs recreation.
flowed down to the City in cast-
iron pipes. Between 1819 and 1822,
a dam was constructed across the
river so the City could replace
steam power with waterwheels to
run the system's pumps. Demand
for water grew. By 1870, many
middle-class Philadelphians had
indoor baths and plumbing.

The Water Works expanded as
water power technology improved
and the City's population increased.
But growth in the City and the
communities upstream took its toll,
and the waters of the Schuylkill
became increasingly polluted. By
1900, the typhoid fever epidemics
Philadelphians took great pride in caused by contaminated river water
their Water Works. They came to forced Philadelphia to build sand
admire the massive machinery and filtration plants to purify the water
the neoclassical architecture; they supply. The Fairmount Water
brought their friends. In 1835, a Works was closed in 1909.

1. (ahove) Installation of introductory Station "0".
2. (below) Station "0" introduces the Interpretive
Esplanade's exhibits and credits the responsible
organizations.

AW -"

L WJJ I

N pppr-

3. (above) Preparation of the granite border for Station 1,
Lenape Seasonal Fishing Camp, at H.C. Wood Monuments.
4. (below) Mock-up of the arrangement of "artifacts"
for Station 1.

IW*11
7W!

Ni_

'IN

C.4

N.,

-.womb--
V

.4
-00

,ED-

5. (above) Installation of Station 1.
6. (below) Station 1, Lenape Seasonal Fishing Camp,
installation completed.

IN.
IT

*Vt@rks, 1801

ere

tank-, th,-Eh
Pip- w 1'.
and pub".

'@s too small, too CINIXII
to run, too
CENTRE SQUARE INAT&R ING th, c:JtY' 5 "c%t
-also ran on Steam.

7. (above) Station 3, Water for the City: The Centre
Square Water Works, installed.
8. (below) Fishermen enjoy the amenities of Station 3.

. ... ..... .....

........ ...... ... . .. .....
........ . ... .... ... ....

'i'l- W-1- W-k- -V-A@d
-h-l"Wy i-p--d
--1 0- c4T" V-Puk.6.. in--A-
14- gr-th in the City -d ih,
P.@- -k;- -Al'
..d th. -T-1 f th. Schuylkill
b-e j,[email protected]. Wy
1900. tl- typhoid fev-
Phii-ldclphil-s t-ok g-eat pride in ciL@cd by contaminated rivtr water
their @Vjtvr Works. Thel, came to forced Philadelphia to build sand
jdmirc the n2assive machinery and Filtration plants to purify the watitr
the ncoclissicd architecture, the%, supply. The Fairmoxint Water
bro"ghr their ti-icti cls, 111 183 5, a Works was closed in 1909.

9. (above) Station 4, Water for the City: The Fairmount
Water Works, close up.
10. (below) Station 4, installed on the Interpretive
Esplanade.

.-T
OP

Wit.

mew --@ww

11. (above) Man and goose share the Fairmount Water
Works Interpretive Esplanade with the Fisherman
(Station 6, installed 1988).
12. (below) Two young fishermen enjoy the Schuylkill
River from the Esplanade.

'7 i@7

Jf
C

.4-

NOAA COASTAL Sbmvl@.*

3 6668 14112D'2 3