The classic hustle and flow of New York City has been around for centuries. The city that never sleeps has always been active and growing non-stop. However, the city became the last place people wanted to be in the mid 19th century. The cholera outbreak that would claim the lives of thousands brought fear and uncertainty into many people’s lives. According to the WHO, cholera is a disease that is contracted from drinking water or eating foods that have come in contact with an infected person’s feces. At the time in New York City, because clean drinking water was so scarce, the spread of cholera was almost unstoppable. In the 1850’s Dr. John Snow of London did a study attempting to find the cause of cholera. His study showed that many infected people lived around a single water pump. When the pump was removed, the spread of cholera began to slow down and eventually stop¹. What Snow’s study in London did, was confirm something that many people already suspected. The spread of cholera came from the water supply. What this did was create not only a demand for, but a necessity of cleaner water in New York City. How the disease spread through the city can be seen here.
(Drawing of the reservoir looking down 5th ave.⁷)
Interestingly, the idea of bringing clean river water into New York City stems as far back as 1774. Christopher Colles, an Irish American engineer suggested feeding river water through wooden pipes all throughout the city. However, the project was forgotten at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Another attempt was made in 1822. Engineer, Canvas White, was employed to survey the cost of bringing water from the Bronx River into New York City. Unfortunately, this plan was also abandoned due to conflicts with other company’s rights to distribute water. In 1834, a board of water commissioners was created to, “examine and consider all matters relative to supplying the city of New York with a sufficient quantity of pure and wholesome water for the use of its inhabitants”². This was first step taken towards creating the 42nd street reservoir. The project soon began in 1837, with a 250-foot-wide damn on the Croton River north of New York City. Water began to fill the 42nd street reservoir on July 4th 1842.
The 42nd street reservoir also called the Croton Reservoir was a massive structure and an engineering feat of its time. The structure had walls 50 feet tall, 25 feet wide and held 25 million gallons of water.³ The initial design was created to allowed 24 gallons of water a day to each of New York City’s 600,000 residents. The opening day of the reservoir was a day of celebration for all of New York City. On the opening day, over 20,000 people visited the structure, most were given the day off from work in order to celebrate. Designed by engineer, John B. Jervis and architect, James Renwick Jr, the reservoir had an Egyptian character with sloped pyramid-like pillars on its corners.⁴
(Corner of 5th ave and 42nd st. 1899 and 2019⁶)
This new water system had an amazing impact on the life of New Yorkers. From a health perspective, people were no longer exposed to dirty, disease contaminated water. Residents now had access to clean drinkable water. On top of providing drinking water, the system also had various other benefits for New York City. Years prior to the creation of the reservoir, the city lacked the recourses to properly fight fires. An instance of this is known as one of the great fires of New York City. On December 16th 1835, a fire broke out on what is now known as Beaver Street. The fire destroyed over 600 buildings and caused at the time, $20 million in damages. One of the greatest challenges fire fighters faced while fighting the fire was access to water. The Hudson and East river were both frozen over and forced firefighters to drill holes through the ice in order to access the water⁵. Had the 42nd reservoir been created years earlier, the fire would not have been more contained and less damaging.
Overall, the creation of the reservoir improved the life of every New Yorker. Disease was no longer spread, fires could be easily fought and industries could flourish with easier access to water. Historian Henry Collins Brown called the reservoir “the greatest forward stride in the city’s history…” However, the reservoir soon became obsolete. Other water systems built underground in New York City proved to be more effective. The first proposal to tear down the structure was in 1877, and it finally was in the 1890’s. Today the New York Public Library stands where the reservoir once was. Remnants of the reservoir can be seen in the lower levels and foundation of the library.
(Remnants of the 42nd St. Reservoir that can still be seen in the New York Public Library. Photos courtesy of Dylan O’Connor)
- https://www.medicinenet.com/cholera/article.htm
- http://www.ascemetsection.org/committees/history-and-heritage/landmarks/croton-water-supply
- http://gothamist.com/2015/01/16/revisit_croton_reservoir.php#photo-1⁴
- https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/realestate/23scapes.html
- https://denverfirefightersmuseum.org/blog/f/the-great-fire-of-new-york-1835
- 1899 photo: dcmny.org, 2019 photo: Dylan O’Connor
- https://crotonhistory.org/category/croton-reservoirs/42nd-street-reservoir/