By William “Skip” Deegans
The modern water system enjoyed by Lewisburg residents began in 1897. The impetus for its development was the devastating fire that year that destroyed many buildings in downtown Lewisburg. The town’s water came from a pump, and a bucket brigade was the only effective way to extinguishing a fire. Had it not been for the gallant efforts of the Ronceverte Volunteer Fire Department and residents of the African American community who stopped the spread on Court Street, the fire would have destroyed much more than it did. Shown in the 1897 photo is the aftermath of the fire.
When the town council began to think seriously about establishing a water works, the Rev. R. L. Telford, wrote the editor of the Greenbrier Independent, “…certainly the memory of our great fire is yet too fresh and vivid, and during the protracted drought the terrible possibilities of a still greater calamity have been too dreadful and menacing to be lightly set aside.”
Sources of water for a system were evaluated. One thought was to use a hydraulic ram to pump water from Knapp’s Spring. While other springs and Howards Creek were evaluated, a special town committee recommended the Greenbrier River as the “only… safe and unfailing source.” The town council estimated it would cost $13,500 to purchase the necessary machinery, obtain right-of-ways, and lay pipe through Main Street and the principal side streets. W.W. Venable, a Charleston civil engineer, was engaged by the town to determine the feasibility of a water works.
The proposal for a water system was not without skeptics. Major John W. Harris, questioned water rents would pay the debt and wrote to the Greenbrier Independent, “…now, who has made a house-to-house canvas of water rents – either verbally or with a paper for signatures.” Many African Americans, he said, were led to believe if they would support the water works, a number of free hydrants would be installed for their benefit. “And if free water, why not free cakes and ale. The communistic spirit is ripe enough already without receiving any additional encouragement,” he wrote.
At the end of 1897, the town council sold $12,000 worth of bonds payable over 20 years at 6% interest. By February the following year, water tanks on top of Wagners Hill (about where the tanks are today) were full and water mains were being laid throughout town. In April, Lewisburg’s first fire company was organized, and it was reported the pressure was sufficient to throw the water about 20 feet above the courthouse steeple.”
By 1899, the town was losing money over the water works. There were 27 subscribers paying 13 cents a month. It was reported water was being wasted by not turning off spigots and lavish use. There were no more than eight bathtubs in town. At the outset, the town council argued that a water works would result in reduced insurance costs, an increase in population, and an expansion of businesses in town.
Source: Greenbrier Independent.
