13/07/2025
The WILLIAMSVILLE STAND-PIPE, GARRISON PARK - 1896 -
GARRISON PARK is a lovely neighborhood park in the heart of the Williamsville. Designed with families in mind, it has a variety of things to climb and play on or in, including a wading pool. Off to the side is a round Gazebo to hide in the shade and picnic on a hot day. How many of these families realize that had they been sitting in the gazebo 60 years ago or more they would be at the bottom of column of 71,000 gallons of water 100 ft. high! That would cool you off for sure. The gazebo sits on the base of an iron plate riveted STAND-PIPE about 12 ft. in diameter and 100 ft high, built in early 1896 as part of the first complete “modern” water works system for the Village.
STAND-PIPES are water towers used to equalize water pressure in a system that often relied on steam-driven pumps, which could cause pressure surges. They were vertical pipes that water was pumped into, creating the necessary pressure. These were particularly useful in providing water to upper floors of multi-story buildings and ensuring sufficient water for purposes like fighting fires. Height and volume determined the pressure.
ONE OF THE greatest concerns with rural towns and villages in the 1800’s was fire. Methods of getting water to the fire quickly was crude, and heavily relied on a bucket brigade of citizens. Whole towns or villages were in danger of being wiped out when any fire started, if the spread could not be checked. In the 1860s Birdsill Holly of Lockport N.Y. invented the modern fire hydrant and water distribution system for fire fighting. In the ensuing decades towns and villages throughout WNY quickly began installing these water distribution systems.
BIDS WERE TAKEN IN August and September. The STAND-PIPE contract was awarded to Messrs. Tippet & Wood of Philipsburg, N. J. They were a company that was a prominent manufacturer of standpipes and other steel plate products, particularly for water storage and infrastructure. By OCTOBER serious drilling was being done at the reservoir site near the south side of the park near Garrison Rd., blasting into the rock about 1,000 sq. ft. of surface. The spring water source was at the southeast side of park, about where the wading pool is today.
BY NOVEMBER Steam drills were working both day and night. Trenches were open in nearly all the streets. The water pipes were now being laid on Main Street and the trenches filled. By mid November the Board 0f Trustees had ordered 1,000 feet of new hose and a new hose cart, in order to be in readiness with proper fire equipment when the water-works were completed.
AS OF DEC. 5TH the waterworks pipes throughout the village were nearly all laid and covered, and everything was fast approaching completion. The Stand-pipe had not yet been erected, but the pipes from the reservoir to the powerhouse were being laid as fast as possible. The Village Board was scheduled to officially approve and dedicate the new water system on December 14th, but on the 13th a more serious dedication and test thwarted the original plans. - FIRE ! - On the night of December 13th, at about 8.30, an alarm of fire was given from the Engine House, the bells in Sts. Peter & Paul steeple tolled a like sound, and with the powerful whistle from the power house no further announcement was necessary to arouse the people of Williamsville.
THE LOWER PART of the village was wrapped in what proved to be disastrous flames. The fire spread with such rapidity that it was impossible to save any of the contents in these buildings. With no water, the fire was a major threat because the buildings in this part of town were very close together. The inhabitants began to empty their houses, and everything was carried to the other side of the road. At the east end men were tearing down buildings to prevent the spread of fire to the Mansion House. A heavy rope, handled by about fifty men, did this work completely. Other buildings were wetted down to curtail the destruction in this direction. A weak stream of water from the old fire engine had been brought to play upon some of the buildings.
THE WATER WORKS system was to have been tested the next day, on the 14th, so energetic efforts were made to get water into the pipes. Demeter Wehrle, who had been appointed to take charge of the new water system, rose to the emergency and turned on the water. Rough and Ready Fire Co. was on the scene with their new hose reel. They hooked it to the hydrant, and quickly had water on the blaze. Steady streams of water came pouring from the hose attached to the village hydrants. The flames were subdued in a short time, and thousands of dollars worth of property, were saved. Test Successful, one day early!
The 2nd week of January 1896 it was announced, the STAND-PIPE CONSTRUCTION was in progress and will take about six weeks to complete. On the 23 of January it was 40 ft. high. On Jan. 30 the STAND-PIPE had reached 75 ft. Some of the employees had to stop work because of dizziness. In the Amherst Bee on Feb. 20 was reported, the work on the STAND-PIPE was finished last week, neatly painted, and the pumps at the power house were being prepared for a final test Saturday the 22nd. Official service began May 1, 1896.
Village of Williamsville,
