Greenville in Hunt County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Water Works

Photographed by James Hulse, July 28, 2025

1. Water Works Marker

Inscription. To provide a dependable water source for the growing town, in 1881 the city government installed 4 cisterns around the courthouse square to store rain water. Each cistern was a hand-dug, 20-foot deep, bell shaped hole. The sides were lined with bricks. Sand and gravel formed the bottoms. The volunteer Dick Hubbard Fire Engine Company, named for the Texas governor, filled their horse-drawn pumper from these cisterns to fight fires.

Several years later a private company secured a franchise to build a public water system. The Greenville Water and Electric Light Company dammed the Sabine River to create a reservoir. The water was pumped to fill a water tower 15 feet in diameter and 137 feet tall to supply fire hydrants and consumers.

The city accepted the water system on June 27, 1889. The water company demonstrated the new pressurized service by shooting a stream of water over the county courthouse. The event was commemorated with a day-long celebration that included a barbecue, band concerts, a congressman's speech, and two evening balls. The newspaper in a neighboring town (still dependent on cisterns for home water use and firefighting) declared the water system "Greenville's Glory".

Erected by Greenville Main Street.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic

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list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is June 27, 1889.

Location. 33° 8.348′ N, 96° 6.372′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Texas, in Hunt County. It is at the intersection of Johnson Street (State Road 34) and Washington St, on the right when traveling north on Johnson Street. The marker is located at the corner of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2527 Johnson St, Greenville TX 75401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gussie Nell Davis (here, next to this marker); The Cotton Trade (within shouting distance of this marker); Lt. Audie Leon Murphy (within shouting distance of this marker); Hunt County (within shouting distance of this marker); To our Hunt County Heroes (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Seven Courthouses of Hunt County (about 300 feet away); 1929 Hunt County Courthouse (about 300 feet away); Hunt County Courthouse Dedication (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

The view of the Water Works Marker along the building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse

2. The view of the Water Works Marker along the building

Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 31, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.