Water Works Pumping Station
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
Marker Inscription
Water Works Pumping Station. Louisville Water Co. incorporated in 1854. Its first pumping station, in Classical Revival style, blends beauty and utility. The classic structures were designed and built by Theodore R. Scowden and his assistant, Charles Hermany. Built 1857-60, it could pump 12 million gallons in 24 hours. Site was away from industry, well elevated, with good landing for coal boats. Over. (Reverse) Water Tower - The 169-foot tower encloses a water standpipe. It represents a Roman column in the Doric order. The base is surrounded by Corinthian columns, nine topped by Greek classical figures and one by an American Indian. Tower damaged by a tornado in 1890. The station and its water tower were named National Landmarks in Nov. 1971. Presented by Friends of the Water Tower.
Erected by Kentucky Historical Society
The Story
Incorporated in 1854, the Louisville Water Company built its first pumping station in 1857-60 in a graceful Classical Revival style designed by Theodore R. Scowden and his assistant Charles Hermany, capable of pumping 12 million gallons a day from a well-elevated site with a good coal-boat landing. Its centerpiece is a 169-foot tower enclosing a water standpipe, cast as a Roman Doric column ringed by Corinthian columns topped with Greek figures and an American Indian. Damaged by an 1890 tornado, the station and tower were named National Landmarks in 1971.
Why it matters
The station shows how 19th-century American cities married engineering and civic pride, wrapping the vital new infrastructure of public water supply in the architecture of a temple.
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Related people
- · Theodore R. Scowden
- · Charles Hermany
Themes & tags
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