Hamilton Waterworks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hamilton Waterworks |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Town or city | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°15′22.45″N 79°46′14.51″W / 43.2562361°N 79.7706972°W |
| Opened | 1859 |
| Design and construction | |
| Main contractor | George Worthington |
| Official name: Hamilton Waterworks National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 17 November 1977 |
The Hamilton Waterworks is a special place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It's also called the Hamilton Waterworks Pumping Station. This old building is a National Historic Site of Canada. It was built in the Victorian style.
It is a rare example of an old industrial building that is still mostly the same as when it was built. Today, it is home to the Museum of Steam and Technology.
Building the Waterworks started in 1856. A local stonemason named George Worthington did the work. It was finished by 1859. The Waterworks officially opened on September 18, 1860. Edward VII, who was the Prince of Wales at the time, opened it during a royal visit to Canada. The site became a heritage site in 1977. It was listed as a National Historic Site of Canada in 2007.
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Why Hamilton Needed Waterworks
In 1833, Hamilton got its water from just five wells. But by the 1850s, the city was growing fast. More people meant they needed a better way to get clean water.
In 1854, a serious illness spread in the city. This made city leaders realize how important a public water system was. They wanted to make sure everyone had access to safe water.
So, the city held a contest to find the best design for a new water system. They wanted a system that could serve 40,000 people. This was about four times the city's size then.
Choosing a Design
An engineer named Thomas Keefer reviewed the designs. In December 1854, he picked a plan by an American engineer, Samuel McElroy. His plan included a pumping station and a large water storage tank, called a reservoir.
However, the city council decided not to use McElroy's plan. They were worried about the water quality from the suggested source. In 1857, the Hamilton City Council chose Thomas Keefer to be the main engineer. He was tasked with building a new water system using water from Lake Ontario.
Once the clean water system was ready, a fountain was put in Gore Park. This was a reminder to everyone in the city about the fresh, pure water they now had.
What the Waterworks Looks Like
The Hamilton Waterworks is a group of buildings. It is located near Globe Park. The main parts are the pump house, boiler house, chimney, and woodshed.
The pump house used steam power to move water. It pumped water about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from Lake Ontario. The water went up to a reservoir located above the Niagara Escarpment. The boiler house made the steam. The tall chimney let out the smoke. The woodshed stored the fuel, which was first wood and later coal. From the reservoir, water flowed by gravity through pipes to homes and buildings in the city.
Inside the Pump House
The pump house building has an Italianate style. Inside, you can still see the original machines and floors. Two huge steam engines were first installed here. Each engine was very powerful, making 100 horsepower. They were built in Dundas, Ontario.
A massive stone structure was built around each engine to hold it up. Each engine weighed 90 tons and was about 14 meters (46 feet) tall! One of these steam engines still works today. It is now powered by an electric motor.
The chimney is about 150 feet (46 meters) tall. It is made of brick and sits on a large stone base. The stones used for the base came from Stoney Creek, Ontario.
A National Historic Site
On November 17, 1977, the Hamilton Waterworks was officially named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it is a very important place in Canadian history.
The site includes more than just the original pumping station. It also has the boilerhouse, chimney, and a shed, all built in 1859. There's also a second shed built in 1910 with another steam pump. A pumphouse from 1913 and a carpenter shed from 1915 are also part of the site. Many old valves and valve chambers from the 1900s are still there too.
Waterworks in Pop Culture
The outside of the Hamilton Waterworks building has been seen on TV! It was used as the setting for the Toronto morgue in the TV show Murdoch Mysteries.
