"This Place Is At The Heart Of Philadelphia" Historical Marker

This historical marker is located near the former site of the Centre Square Public Water Works, which operated during the first decades of the nineteenth century. The facility transported clean water to residents within the city and was the first large-scale water works in America. Next to the historical marker, an 1800 engraving depicts the original waterworks, housed in an ornate marble building designed in a neoclassical style. At the time of its construction, the system was considered a revolutionary mix of ingenuity, technology, and design, although it needed to be upgraded a decade later. After the larger Fairmont Water Works was built north of the city, the original water works were demolished in the 1820s, although Centre Square continued to serve as a site for public festivities. As with other cities in America, Philadelphia in the twenty-first century has recently sought to address the problem of polluted stormwater runoff ending up in local waterways. To address this, a reservoir and rain garden was created in Centre Square to absorb and filter excess stormwater. The historical marker at this location was dedicated to the people of Philadelphia. It states: "For centuries, people like you have gathered here, allowing great ideas to flow from the heart of Philadelphia."

This historical marker is located at the original site of the Centre Square Water Works (c. 1801), the first large-scale water works in the nation. The marker also describes Philadelphia's current involvement in the Green City, Clean Waters program, which is managed by the Philadelphia Water Department. The program's objective is to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff, thereby improving water quality and making local waterways cleaner. Efforts to improve water quality also include the creation of rain gardens, while adding more plants and trees into the cityscape. Beyond the benefits for people and the environment, plants and trees soak up excess stormwater runoff and facilitate the evaporation of water back into the air.

The Philadelphia Water Department's Green City, Clean Waters program increases the availability and efficacy of these natural systems. As such, there is a rain garden adjacent to the historical marker at this site. The signage that was installed here describes how the rain garden works:

"Tulip-shaped umbrella gathers falling rain: water flows into the tulip funnel and is collected. Reservoirs collect the water: reservoir tanks hold and slowly release water into the planter. Plants soak it up: Instead of going into a sewer, this water sustains plants that add vibrant, living elements to the Courtyard."

Next to the historical marker, an engraving from 1800 shows a neoclassical, Grecian temple-style building that was constructed to house the original waterworks that existed in Centre Square. At the time of its construction, the facility made use of a new technology: the steam engine. The system drew water from the Schuylkill River to a steam-engine-powered pump housed within the marble, neoclassical building in Centre Square. This building was known as the "pump house" or engine house, and the water was stored in a second-story holding tank. As needed, the water flowed downward with gravity and was then pumped out to city residents. Philadelphians were able to access this water supply, provided that they paid a rental fee and had a connector pipe to link their home to the system. Although the Centre Square Water Works was initially considered a revolutionary example of technology and design, by 1815 the system needed to be upgraded, as the city was growing and expanding westward. A new facility, the Fairmont Water Works, was built north of the city, and the old water works was demolished in the 1820s. However, Centre Square continued to serve as a gathering space for festivities, and it remains a public space today.

Jones, Devry Becker. This Place Is At The Heart Of Philadelphia , Hmdb. March 1st, 2022. Accessed December 20th, 2022. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=192789.

Maccaro, James A. . The Centre Square Water Works, Foundation for Economic Education. May 1st, 1991. Accessed December 20th, 2022. https://fee.org/articles/the-centre-square-water-works-a-monument-to-government-inefficiency/#:~:text=The%20Centre%20Square%20Water%20Works%20was%20an%20ornate%20structure%20in,with%20Doric%20columns%20and%20pediments.

Zucker, Beth. Clean water for a young Philadelphia, Khan Academy. Accessed December 20th, 2022. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-americas/british-colonies/early-republic/v/clean-water-for-a-young-philadelphia.

Green City, Clean Waters, Philadelphia Water Department. Accessed December 20th, 2022. https://water.phila.gov/green-city/.