Water Works

Municipal water service was seriously discussed in Menasha in 1904, when inhabitants of Doty Island wanted a connection with Neenah’s water supply. Mainland Menashans did not like that idea as they assumed a connection with Neenah’s water, via a water main down Nicolet Boulevard, would only postpone the mainlander’s chances for a water connection. Construction of a water plantin Menasha was put to a referendum in April of that year and it was voted down. After a few months of negotiations, Neenah agreed to provide water to Menasha (including the mainland); however, the City of Menasha called for a special election to reconsider the construction of their own water works. The system was proposed to be funded through $55,000 in taxes and $75,000 in bonds. The election forecast did not appear to be in favor of the works; however, just days before the vote, the Levandoski home in the 4th Ward burned to the ground because no water could reach it. This unfortunate happenstance for the Levandoski family resulted in a positive vote for the water works.

In July 1904, the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, reported that George Cadogan Morgan of Morgan Engineering in Chicago had been hired to draw the plans and writing the specifications for the new plant, which was to be powered by a diesel-fueled electric generator as opposed to a steam boiler. Morgan had already built plants in New London, De Pere and Watertown and another was, at that time, under construction in Sheboygan. Contracts were let in February 1905 and 11 miles of water mains were laid and nearly 90 fire hydrants were installed; the water was turned on in November.

 

Aside from the plant itself, the system included an engine house, a home for the engineer and a 135 foot-tall stand pipe to store water and generate pressure. The building was added on to by no later than 1913 and also functioned as the electric lighting plant for the city  Construction of a two story, water purification plant began in 1927 and was completed the following year and an additional wing was constructed between 1947 and 1948. Finally, the eastern end of the facility appears to have undergone more recent alterations. Indeed, in 1978, a collector system, piping and a decanter tank were added; a chlorine room was also constructed. Ten years later, a new reservoir and pump station were built and a $12.8 million upgrade to the filtration system was completed in 2008. 

Photos and info courtesy, HISTORICAL & ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY, City of Menasha, Winnebago County, 31 August 2009