WPA-Built Pumphouse
National Archives Record Group 69-N
Description
In 1936 the Works Progress Administration built the Pumphouse in Bisbee, Arizona. A dam was built above the Pumphouse to hold water which fed underneath the Pumphouse and supplied the city’s fire hydrants.
The Bisbee Daily Review, October 2, 1935, reported the city engineer, Ralph Motz, and the CCC engineer, Frank Brunel, “spent yesterday morning looking over the site of a dam to be constructed in wood canyon for flood control and to prevent erosion. ..Water impounded during rainy seasons will be pumped into the city reservoir and stored for use of the fire department.”
The pumphouse bears a distinctive oval WPA plaque.
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WPA-Built Pumphouse (verso)
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A bronze plaque found on the Pumphouse, to the left of the door. Image taken March 3, 2018.
Pumphouse Plaque
A bronze plaque found on the Pumphouse, to the left of the door. Image taken March 3, 2018.
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The interior of the Pumphouse showing the pump. Image taken February 1, 2018.
Pumphouse Interior
The interior of the Pumphouse showing the pump. Image taken February 1, 2018.
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A view of the pipe which carries the water from the reservoir at the top of the hill to the water pump inside the Pumphouse. The water from the reservoir feeds the city’s fire hydrants in Old Bisbee. Image taken February 1, 2018.
Pumphouse Pipe from Reservoir
A view of the pipe which carries the water from the reservoir at the top of the hill to the water pump inside the Pumphouse. The water from the reservoir feeds the city’s fire hydrants in Old Bisbee. Image taken February 1, 2018.
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A view of the reservoir which holds the water for the Pumphouse. Image taken March 3, 2018.
Pumphouse Reservoir
A view of the reservoir which holds the water for the Pumphouse. Image taken March 3, 2018.
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Bisbee Pumphouse
Source notes
National Archives Record Group 69-N
Bisbee Daily Review, October 2, 1935, Page Eight, “Erosion control work will start soon.”
Bisbee Daily Review, October 3, 1935, Page Two, “Dam site surveys made by engineer.”
Project originally submitted by Brent McKee on December 7, 2017.
Additional contributions by Amanda Hetro.
We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal project site.
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Wonderful information! When my children were young, we enjoyed seeing the large goldfish or carp that lived in the reservoir/former swimming pool.