The Aftermath of the Great Fire of 1881

The Aftermath of the Great Fire of 1881. . , In Collingwood's early years, the lake was used as a source of drinking water, and for personal bathing. Town By-Laws from 1884 considered the issue important enough to pass this law: “No person shall bathe or wash his person in the Lake, the Harbor, within or opposite to the limits of the Town, between the hours of seven in the forenoon, and nine in the afternoon.” Notice that there is not an outright ban on bathing or washing oneself in the Harbour? , Following the Great Fire of September 1881, when about half of the business district was destroyed, the Town worked toward installing water and sewer lines, not only for the citizens' convenience and health, but also to fight fires. The water mains were laid in place in 1888 and 1889 by the company of Lindsay and Burdett. , “On Huron Street, the water used to come up to our back door, and in stormy weather the spray would come into the sheds and kitchens. We used to go out of the back door, to the lake, for all our water, and in the winter had to make holes in the ice to get it. Those living at a distance from the lake had water drawn to them in barrels. Afterwards we got artesian wells, by drilling through the rock. We got very good water when we got down from 16 to 27 feet. This continued until the wells were contaminated by sewage. Then our present water system was commenced.” , John Nettleton, early pioneer , The word “outhouse” was used to speak of an outdoor washroom, located usually to the rear of the house. Early Collingwood had many of these little buildings, and it was this practice that contaminated the first wells, as John Nettleton mentions. , The west end of town was the first to receive water and sewer systems. The “East Enders” apparently did not receive the same services until well into the 20th century. Rivalry existed between the two sections of town, partly because of the water and sewer situation. , The “Water Tower” on Hume Street was erected in 1960. The tower was made just after the end of World War II by Chicago Bridge and Iron (Horton Steel), and uses the same complex steel construction methods that once made Collingwood proud with her magnificent steel ships. Once a landmark on Wilson Avenue in North York, it was eventually taken down in 1959. A year later, it became a landmark in Collingwood. , Technically, the water tower is known as a gravity tank. Water from the lake is pumped up into it, and it forms a reservoir. The pressure from gravity ensures good water pressure in town faucets. , All unmarked photographs are from the Collingwood Museum Collection. For more information about our local heritage, please visit the Collingwood Museum. Photographs of Hume Street water tower by Gordon "Steamer" Clark, c. 1960., [background photo captions] , . The Victoria Day Flood of May 1912. Obviously the sewer lines could not cope with this one. , . In the background, the sewer line being laid on Pine Street, 1909. , . The William Toner home, 199 Third Street, at the northeast corner of Beech and Third Streets, is thought to be the first home with an indoor toilet. , . Even the Shipyard had a water tower. This one supplied the water for fire protection and sewer applications.