Rockville in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Rockville's Pump House
The Growth of Rockville's Water and Power Services
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, September 12, 2017
1. Rockville's Pump House Marker
Inscription.
Rockville's Pump House. The Growth of Rockville's Water and Power Services. , The Pump House was built in 1897 under the guidance of Mayor Joseph Reading, the town druggist who was elected on the “Water Works Ticket.” Known as “Rockville Electric Light and Water Works,” it was an important step in the growth and modernization of the town, which was home to approximately 1,300 residents. , The new plant housed one gasoline-powered generator that produced electricity and another engine to run the water pumps. The pumps sent water from two wells to a large water tower up the hill on Grandin Avenue. , With the completion of the Pump House, the town was able to replace gaslights with cleaner, brighter and more efficient electric lights. Public streetlights were replaced and private homes signed up for the new electric service too. In its first year of service the plant provided electricity to the community between 30 minutes before sunset and 1 a.m. There was, however, no public sewer system for waste. Backyard septic tanks or privies continued to be the no public sewer system. , As Rockville grew, secondary wells were added to supplement the water supply. By 1958, 39 different wells were in use and the Pump House continued to pump water from the wells to the water tower. That year, Rockville consolidated its water system and built a new water treatment plant on the Potomac River. The wells were closed but the pumps continued to operate to maintain water pressure at the water tower. In 1998 the pumps were turned off. The water tower was demolished in 2001 and the pumps were removed in 2008.
The Pump House was built in 1897 under the guidance of Mayor Joseph Reading, the town druggist who was elected on the “Water Works Ticket.” Known as “Rockville Electric Light and Water Works,” it was an important step in the growth and modernization of the town, which was home to approximately 1,300 residents.
The new plant housed one gasoline-powered generator that produced electricity and another engine to run the water pumps. The pumps sent water from two wells to a large water tower up the hill on Grandin Avenue.
With the completion of the Pump House, the town was able to replace gaslights with cleaner, brighter and more efficient electric lights. Public streetlights were replaced and private homes signed up for the new electric service too. In its first year of service the plant provided electricity to the community between 30 minutes before sunset and 1 a.m. There was, however, no public sewer system for waste. Backyard septic tanks or privies continued to be the no public sewer system.
As Rockville grew, secondary wells were added to supplement the water supply. By 1958, 39 different wells were in use and the Pump House continued to pump water from the wells to the water tower. That year, Rockville consolidated its water system and built a new water treatment plant on the Potomac River. The
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wells were closed but the pumps continued to operate to maintain water pressure at the water tower. In 1998 the pumps were turned off. The water tower was demolished in 2001 and the pumps were removed in 2008.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Charity & Public Work. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.
Location. 39° 5.111′ N, 77° 8.457′ W. Marker is in Rockville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker is on South Horners Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 South Horners Lane, Rockville MD 20850, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . The Pump House at Croydon Park. By Mary A. van Balgooy, Spring 2012, Peerless Rockville. (Submitted on September 13, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, September 13, 2017
2. Rockville's Pump House Marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, September 12, 2017
3. Rockville Electric Light and Water Works
The Rockville Electric Light and Water Works housed a Dynamo, a gas-powered generator to run electric lights, and a Deane Pump, to pump water from underground wells to a water tower on Grandin Avenue as seen in this Sanborn-Perris fire insurance map, from July 1897.
Close-up of map on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, September 12, 2017
4. Rates
The Mayor and Council meeting minutes from April 6, 1897, listed the water rates the year the Pump House opened. Water rates were set according to the type of building connected to the water supply and amount of water used. businesses affected by the new water rates would have included blacksmiths, horse stable owners and saloon operators.
Close-up of image on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, September 12, 2017
5. The New Water Treatment Plant
In 1958, Rockville built a new water treatment plant on the Potomac River. The plant pictured in 2008, treats water from the river and pumps it through water main lines to residents and businesses. In 2010 the City provided water to approximately 12,624 customers, ten times more than the 1,261 people living in Rockville in 1896.
Close-up of image on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, September 12, 2017
6. The Pump House
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, September 12, 2017
7. 1897
City of Rockville Historic Property
Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form
Maryland Historical Trust Inventory No. M:26/14 Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 407 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on September 13, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2. submitted on September 14, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 13, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.