The Waterwheel

The waterwheel was commissioned by the Walton family and built in 1912. Except during periods of renovation/reconstruction and/or flooding (e.g. in September 1960 during Hurricane Donna), the waterwheel has operated continuously for over 100 years. When the waterwheel was originally constructed it helped power multiple fountains in ponds and in the dining room of the Walton's residence. Now, the waterwheel powers the lights that illuminate the historic masterpiece at night.

The waterwheel was originally constructed in 1912. The 1918 silent film “Oh! Johnny!” was filmed on the Walton estate and the waterwheel was among the scene locations. By the 1950s when the estate was converted to Eastern’s campus, the water wheel was already over 40 years old and was affectionately referred to as “the old water wheel” or “the old picturesque water wheel” in the campus newspaper The Spotlight.

In 1956 Tony Campolo wrote a short letter of gratitude to Eastern on behalf of his graduating class (‘56) which included thanking Eastern “for the water-wheel.”

According to a 1957 article about the waterwheel in The Spotlight by student Edward Warner, “The Eastman Kodak Company has also secured pictures of this historic marker which have been distributed in sample material sent into thousands of homes throughout the country.” In the same article, the author claims that students would often see artists on campus painting the waterwheel.

In 1972 the waterwheel was restored after 60 years. Photographs documenting the restoration process can be found in the university archives. The waterwheel continued in working order for another nearly 40 years.

It was restored again in 2010, just before the waterwheel’s centennial. During the 2010 renovation, additional features were added, which required new components to convert the waterwheel’s motion into electricity. According to Mainline Media News “After the death of beloved professor and 1973 alum Robert Thomas in 2007, accent lights were added to the structure to illuminate it at night in his honor.” A cake that looked like the waterwheel was commissioned in celebration of the waterwheel’s centennial.

https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=ea76379f-3855-4c05-9d40-099882bc532b/easa0000/20110817/00000094

https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=ea76379f-3855-4c05-9d40-099882bc532b/easa0000/20110817/00000127

https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2012/10/16/renovated-waterwheel-pumps-up-easterns-campus/

The suburban and Wayne Times Thursday August 10, 1972

Today’s Post August 8, 1972 

https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=ea76379f-3855-4c05-9d40-099882bc532b/easa0000/20110817/00000156