Centre Square Water Works Historical Marker

This historical marker is located at the former site of the Centre Square Water Works, one of the earliest water works in America. Designed in 1798, the water works facility opened in 1804 and operated during the early decades of the nineteenth century, transporting clean water to residents in the city. As noted on the historical marker, city leaders recognized the need for providing clean water after several successive epidemics of Yellow Fever struck the city, while the population was also expanding. A committee was formed, and Benjamin H. Latrobe drew up plans for the new water works facility, which incorporated a cutting-edge piece of technology: the steam-engine. Drawing water from the Schuylkill River using a steam engine-powered pump, a second pump was installed within an ornate marble building, known as the pump house or engine house, in Centre Square. The system was considered revolutionary in its ability to distribute water throughout the city, and local residents could pay to access the water through a building connector pipe. The result was the first large-scale water works in the nation.

Centre Square was the site of the first large-scale water works in America. n 1797, prominent citizens petitioned the City Council to launch a "Watering Committee," to oversee the city's water supply. A year later, Benjamin Latrobe drew up plans for a facility that would pump water from the Schuylkill River to Centre Square. The system was considered revolutionary for its innovative design and use of new technology, the steam engine. I

In 1801, a pump house, or steam-engine house, was built in Centre Square. It was designed in a neoclassical style resembling a Greek temple, built from marble. The pump house, or engine house, became the architectural focal point of Centre Square. This ornate building was surrounded by a circular garden, carriage paths, and footpaths. In front of the building was a publicly funded decorative fountain (the first of its kind in the nation) designed by William Rush and known as the Spirit of the Schuylkill.

Inside the pump house building, a steam engine pumped water to a second story holding tank that could contain up to 16,000 gallons. The water then flowed downward with the force of gravity into wooden pipes, which ran throughout the city's street grid. Local residents could pay a "water rent" to access the reserves of fresh water through a building connector pipe. The new system was considered a significant advancement in the way that water was managed within an urban environment. As inscribed on the historical marker placed at this site:

"As Philadelphia's population grew in the late 18th century, and following a series of Yellow Fever epidemics, city leaders saw a compelling need for a clean water supply. The Water Works erected at Centre Square revolutionized urban water management and represented the first large-scale public works infrastructure project in the nation's history."

Meanwhile, the city of Philadelphia continued to expand westward from the Delaware riverfront to the Schuylkill River, with a street plan laid out by William Penn. In 1815, the new and larger Fairmont Water Works replaced the earlier facility in Centre Square. However, the original garden at Centre Square remained a gathering place for public festivities. The pump house, or engine house, also remained the site of the distribution tank until 1828. As the city continued to expand, Centre Square was divided into four quadrants, and after 1829, Market Street and Broad Street intersected the square.

Jones, Devry Becker. Centre Square Water Works Historical Marker, Hmdb. February 9th, 2022. Accessed December 20th, 2022. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=191772.

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

View of the Water Works at Centre Square Philadelphia, Philadelphia Museum of Art. Accessed December 20th, 2022. https://philamuseum.org/collection/object/323127.

PHILADELPHIA CENTRE SQUARE WATER WORKS, 1799-1801, Open Rivers: Rethinking Water, Place, & Community. Accessed December 20th, 2022. https://openrivers.lib.umn.edu/article/industrial-ornament-modern-symbol/figure02/.

The Water Works, Centre Square. Philadelphia., Free Library of Philadelphia. Accessed December 20th, 2022. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/43963.