- Tallahassee Waterworks Restoration

Public/Private Client: 
Completion Date:
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Construction Cost: 
Role in Project: Principal

Architect: MLD Architects, Inc.
Consultant:

Bass Construction

 HISTORY OF OLD CITY WATERWORKS PROPERTY

The Old City Waterworks, located at the northeast corner of Gaines and Gadsden Streets, is a landmark in downtown Tallahassee.

In 1885, a Waterworks bond proposal was offered by the City Council but rejected by the voting citizens of Tallahassee. Three City Council members resigned as a result of the bond proposal rejection. In 1889 the City Council granted a charter to a Philadelphia based company, The Tallahassee Waterworks, to provide water service to the City of Tallahassee. The company was able to negotiate a 99 year lease on Duval Pond, on the southwest corner of present day Myers Park, and they purchased property on the corner of Gaines and Gadsden, where the pumphouse was built. This first building constructed on the site was wood frame with a tin roof and two firewalls, probably brick. This was the origin of the Waterworks.

Unfortunately, like so many private water companies of the time, profit was more important than public health, and citizens were warned to boil their water. The City Council informed the company no payments would be made until the City was provided with clean water. The quality of Tallahassee’s water would be a major concern the entire time the water service was provided by this privately owned company.

The water needs of Tallahassee continued to grow with the City, and an artesian well was dug on the pumphouse property to provide additional clean water. A small wood frame building with a tin roof was built to protect the well. A shingle roof was erected over the reservoir to protect the water.  In 1893 an additional “L” shaped building containing another well was erected behind the first well. In 1904 the building was completely remodeled. The building was covered with brick and truncated roofs were added, creating the appearance still seen in today’s existing structure.

In 1907 the citizens of Tallahassee, disappointed with the private Waterworks, voted to allow the City Council to acquire a water plant, and the next year the City purchased the existing Waterworks for $75,000. The City approved a bond issued in 1910 to provide money to improve the water plant and to also provide gas and electric plants. The service area was extended. In 1916 a small blockhouse was built behind the Waterworks, where a new 400,000 gallon reservoir was located. This replaced the old 80,000 gallon one.

In 1923 a number of changes occurred at the Waterworks: the plant was electrified, a new concrete reservoir was constructed, the wall facing Gaines Street was rebuilt, the building was painted. The building was stuccoed during this time period. The rear of the building was extended to cover a new well and a small room was added. From 1926 until 1930 the external appearance of the Waterworks remained the same. In 1927, a fourth well was added directly behind the third and within the cover of the rear truncated roof. In 1930 a fireproof blockhouse was constructed immediately behind the Waterworks and housed the City’s final well.

These improvements carried the Waterworks into 1957, when the Water Department abandoned the building. In 1958 the last well was abandoned. The City then used the building as storage for many years.

In the following years many different uses for the Waterworks Building were proposed to the City Council. In 1974 the firm of Dachtera and Sauvigne proposed to use the building as a restaurant. In 1975 the Jaycees proposed using the building as a museum. In 1976 Frank Murphy proposed another restaurant. In 1978 yet another restaurant proposal was offered by Restoration Restaurants. In 1983 the architectural firm of Clemons and Rutherford proposed leasing the building from the City for renovation as their offices. In 1985, the City considered using the building as a teen center. None of these proposed uses was ever realized.

In 1991 the City applied for preservation grants to stabilize and rehabilitate the building as City offices. The funds for stabilizing the building were granted, but the rehabilitation funds were denied. The stabilization design work was completed in 1992, by the architectural firm, Educated Designs of Florida, Inc., but the City Manager does not agree to allow this work to proceed. In 1992 the City again applied for a preservation grant to rehabilitate the Waterworks. This request was also denied.

In 1976 the Old City Waterworks was listed as a Civil Engineering Landmark in the State of Florida. In 1979 the Old City Waterworks was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

To quote the Historic Tallahassee Preservation Board, “Historically, the Waterworks is significant as the first “modern” system to bring water to the residents of Tallahassee. Architecturally, the building is a fine example of turn-of-the-century industrial construction. With its masonry construction, arched windows and doors, distinctive roof configuration, and spacious interior, the Waterworks is an important addition to downtown. It is strategically located by Cascades Park and the Old Jail.”