Waterworks trenches dug with muscle power every foot of the way

The establishment of the waterworks in Creemore was a major project and had many twists and turns. In 2008 Gerry Blackburn wrote a series of articles for the Creemore Echo describing how it all came about. We thank Gerry Blackburn for sharing the story. He provided his credentials this way: “I was born and grew up on a farm on the west half of Lot 7, Concession 6 of the former Township of Nottawasaga when the original line from the springs ran through the farm across the road. Although I am not quite old enough to remember the original installation I have personally watched several replacement projects, as well as serving for a few years as Chair of the Waterworks Committee on the council of the Village of Creemore.” This article is a shortened version:

As early as 1894 ideas were bandied about concerning a water system under pressure but the ideas were impractical. Nine years went by before some concrete plans were made to bring water to the village. In April of 1904 Council commissioned John Gault, a Toronto civil engineer to prepare a report.

Gault, after surveying the area, reported that the water could be obtained by damming Francis Mackay’s creek, the water flowing to a reservoir on a hill. With an elevation of 200 feet higher than the village, the water pressure would be at 90 pounds per square inch, considered ideal for fire fighting. Francis Mackay’s creek started north of Sideroad 6/7 and went west of the Sixth Line.

In May of 1904 Council passed a bylaw to raise $17,000, which would be enough for installing the water system, plus $1,500 for fire fighting equipment and $500 for 10 hydrants. The matter of safe water seemed of little concern. It should be pointed out that the dam would be fed from a field where cattle pastured. A sample sent away was declared safe. In December 1904 tenders were issued and one for $12,473 was accepted.

In May of 1905 concern was raised about using the water from the creek as it was muddy after a heavy rain. In a short time Council contacted the engineer and received an additional estimate of $5,000 to draw water from Jimmy Day’s farm located on the west side of the Sixth Line, a mile further than the proposed dam. This spring was on the Sixth Line road allowance between Sideroad 6/7 and Sideroad 3/4.

Tenders were called for a wooden reservoir in August of 1905. This reservoir would be erected on Sidey’s Hill which was opposite the cemetery. It was to be 30 feet in diameter, 19 feet high and with a shallow cone roof made very much like a large barrel. The wall would be straight wooden staves held together with circular steel rods.

With modern day backhoes and other equipment our imaginations are pressed to think of the hard labour required to dig a trench for the pipes all the way from the Sixth Line south west of Creemore. Hard human labour was how it was done in 1905. Men with picks and shovels dug it with their own muscle power every foot of the way.

Water at last! But almost immediately there was a problem. The overflow of water from the reservoir washed fill away from the newly laid pipes which broke. By January 1906 the pipes were repaired and the water turned on again. This must have been a proud moment for the village council and the citizens in general. Later that year there was a serious fire in a building, which was quickly extinguished. The Creemore Star stated, “We think it will forever silence any talk of the cost of the waterworks.”

More problems loomed. It began to be obvious that there wasn’t enough water when most of the houses were hooked up. The amount of water in the springs fluctuated from season to season. A solution would have to be found.

About 1918 a small portion of land on what is now the north east corner of what is now the arena parking lot on Collingwood Street was purchased and a well dug. A plentiful supply of water gushed forth. This was pumped into the village water supply with a pump powered by an electric motor. Sometimes the well was pumped dry making it unreliable for a dependable supply of water.

The water shortage grew worse. By November of 1922 the water was shut off between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. each night in order to fill the reservoir. A couple of months later in January of 1923 a major fire erupted in an almost new bakeshop behind what is now Home Hardware. Only enough water pressure was available to provide a light spray on adjacent roofs. Thankfully a heavy snowfall secured the whole east block from burning.

Several alternative ideas were put forth. One was to tap into the Norris spring on Lot 4, Concession 4. Others were to dig a hole beside the Mad River and draw water from there, and also to dig a well up on the hill but no water was found. Finally it was decided to make use of the Norris spring. It was connected by the fall of 1925.

That is where this story ends as this series of articles tells about modernizing the village between 1900 and 1930.

Helen Blackburn is a retired teacher, avid gardener and a long-time contributor to The Creemore Echo. She writes about local history.