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Cool Spring in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

A City’s Growing Demand for Water

Cool Spring Reservoir Plaza

— established 2009 —

 
 
A City’s Growing Demand for Water Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 28, 2019
1. A City’s Growing Demand for Water Marker
Inscription.
The Cool Spring Reservoir was designed by consulting civil engineer William E. Morris of Philadelphia and others as an open air reservoir formed by an earthen embankment and bordered by 10th and Van Buren Streets. Work on the Reservoir began in 1873, with the construction of the lower embankment. By 1875, construction began on a stone wall along 10th Street to form the southern embankment. The Pump House was constructed later that year, followed by the Gate House in 1876. The Reservoir was completed in 1877, and by 1878, it was in full use, distributing an average of 43,000 gallons per day. The total capacity of the Reservoir at that time was 11 million gallons.

In 1905, the Reservoir capacity was increased to 40 million gallons. For the next 100 years the Reservoir was maintained, but remained unchanged. In 2005, construction of a new underground Reservoir began in the south basin along 10th Street. The new Reservoir has a holding capacity of 10 million gallons. Once completed, a new City plaza was constructed over the site. The outline of the original Reservoir is marked today by the reset granite coping stones around the plaza’s perimeter.
 
Erected 2009 by The City of Wilmington, Delaware.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
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Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.
 
Location. 39° 45.09′ N, 75° 33.582′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Cool Spring. Marker is at the intersection of N. Franklin Street and West 11th Street on N. Franklin Street. The marker is located on the Cool Spring Reservoir Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wilmington DE 19806, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Science in Action (within shouting distance of this marker); Evolution of Safe Drinking Water (within shouting distance of this marker); Vegetative Pond Buffer / Amortiguador de Estanque Vegetativo (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Meadow / El Prado (about 400 feet away); The Pump House and Gate House (about 400 feet away); A City Park Is Born (about 400 feet away); Stormwater Planters / Jardineras De Aguas Pluviales (about 600 feet away); Cool Spring Park (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.
 
A City’s Growing Demand for Water Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 28, 2019
2. A City’s Growing Demand for Water Marker
A City’s Growing Demand for Water Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 28, 2019
3. A City’s Growing Demand for Water Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 192 times since then and 5 times this year. Last updated on May 26, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on October 2, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 29, 2024