Falmouth Pumping Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Falmouth Pumping Station
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Falmouth Pumping Station
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Falmouth, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 8.4 acres (3.4 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Boyden, Ernest N. |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000148 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1998 |
The Falmouth Pumping Station is a special historic building in Falmouth, Massachusetts. It's a place where water is pumped to homes and businesses. This station was built way back in 1898! It was designed by an architect named Ernest N. Boyden.
Over the years, more buildings were added to help with water treatment. This includes a newer pump building and a tank for cleaning the water. The station was built because more people were visiting Falmouth for vacations. It also helped firefighters get water to put out fires. Today, it still helps provide clean water for the town. It was recognized as an important historic site in 1998.
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What is the Falmouth Pumping Station?
The Falmouth Pumping Station is a group of buildings that work together. They help get clean water to the people of Falmouth. The main building, called the pumphouse, was built in 1898. It has a unique style called Queen Anne architecture.
Other important parts of the station include:
- A newer building for pumping and treating water, built in 1993.
- A large tank, also from 1993, that helps clean the water with chlorine.
- A house and garage that were added in 1932.
This whole setup helps make sure Falmouth has enough water for everyone.
Where is the Pumping Station Located?
The Falmouth Pumping Station is found on Pumping Station Road. It sits on a narrow piece of land between two ponds: Grews Pond and Long Pond. This area is part of Good Will Park.
You can usually only drive to the station if you work for the town. However, there's a walking path around Long Pond that goes right by the pumping station.
How the Pumping Station Works
The main pumphouse building is quite large. It's about 150 feet long and 60 feet wide. The oldest part of the building was designed by Ernest Boyden in 1898. This section originally held a steam engine and pumps.
In 1903, a section was added for the engineer who ran the station. Later, in 1953, another pump building was added to the western side. The part designed by Boyden is the most fancy. It has a special roof and unique windows.
Other Buildings at the Station
Across the road from the main pumphouse, you'll find other important buildings.
- The low-lift pumping and water treatment building is a simple brick building. It has a gently sloped roof.
- The chlorination tank is a huge concrete tank. It can hold about 1 million gallons of water! It has a slightly domed top.
Further down the road, there's a house and a garage. The house is made of concrete blocks. The garage is made of wood and has five bays for vehicles.
Why Was the Pumping Station Built?
Before this station was built, people in Falmouth got their water from wells or open water sources. By 1896, the town had seven hand-pumped wells. But this wasn't enough as the town grew.
Falmouth became a popular place for vacations. More visitors meant more demand for water. Also, fire insurance rates were going up for areas without a good water system. These reasons made the town decide to build a modern water supply.
In 1898, a private company called the Falmouth Water Supply Company was started. It was controlled by people who spent their summers in town. The pumping station was built on land given by Joseph Story Fay, who also gave Good Will Park to the town.
The town of Falmouth later decided to buy the water company. This process was finished in 1902. The town then took over providing water to its residents.
