What it takes to make a town: The waterworks

McCook City Park (Norris Park), with its 100-foot water standpipe.

In 1881 McCook (Fairview) consisted of a couple of sod structures on the south side of the Republican River. A year later, thanks to the coming of the Railroad, and its Real Estate arm, The Lincoln Land Company, the new town of McCook grew up entirely on the north side of the river. The original town, along the river was relatively flat, great accommodations for the railroad, new business buildings, and some lots for residential properties. However, the land for expansion rose quite rapidly to the north, to the treeless prairie land of Southwest Nebraska. One of the first needs, that immediately became apparent, was for a "waterworks system" for their new town.

A waterworks system consists of two of the utilities that most people take for granted -- a: a supply of fresh water and b: sewer service. Looking back at the old records it seems that these two services have kept the city fathers busy for almost the entire 133-year history of McCook. Originally the town of McCook covered about four hundred and eighty acres, but soon extended in every direction, and there were four distinct parts -- West McCook, South McCook, East McCook, and Main Town. These parts developed independently. It was almost as if there were four separate towns.

One of the first problems that the developers encountered was that of water. On the lower lots, near the river, water could be obtained from wells of reasonable depth. However, as the town moved north, some of the lots on higher ground could not get a well at all. Without water the lots were useless, so by the fall of 1882 the Land Company began to make preparations for the first waterworks system for McCook.

McCook's first fire chief, J.H. Dwyer

By 1883 McCook had its first waterworks -- from a location in South McCook. From McCook Tribune Editor, F.M. Kimmell wrote: "The waterworks is now in first class condition. Everything is working smoothly. The pump at the waterworks is now doing the job and the immense tank on the hill is pumped full. As soon as the pipes are laid into homes McCook will take on metropolitan airs."

The pump for the new station was powered by a steam engine imported from Ohio, which could pump some of 54,000 gallons per hour. Ordinary pressure was 30-60 pounds, but could be stepped up to 120 pounds in case of fire. Water was pumped to an elevated reservoir erected on North Hill (Norris Park). At first the reservoir was a giant wooden tank, such as was used by the RR. In 1894 a 100 foot tall metal standpipe -- a landmark in McCook for the next 100 years -- replaced it. From that reservoir water was distributed to all parts of the city, through 101⁄2 miles of water mains, 338 taps, and 21 fire plugs. Original cost -- $75,000.

Editor Kimmell, of the McCook Tribune was pleased with the system, but felt that McCookites should immediately provide "a watering trough and fountain in the business portion of the city...where farmers can water their horses and allay their own thirst."

Waterworks Superintendent C.H. Meeker.

Almost immediately the original system was proved inadequate for the growing little city. In 1886, records show that J.E. Kelley, McCook pioneer, who was associated with the Lincoln Land Company, dug a "city well", which increased water capacity many times. This was housed in a brick building south of Main Town.

In 1893, and again just after the turn of the century, new wells were added to the city waterworks, when the first wells became outdated. A pumping station was installed in South McCook in another brick building, which was surrounded by three large wells, each more than 30' in diameter. City fathers announced that McCook's water supply would be adequate for years to come.

Probably the thing that spurred the development of a waterworks for McCook more than anything else was the need of adequate water for the fighting of fires. In June 1884 a fire broke out in the LaTourette Hardware store. Due to lack of leadership and equipment to prevent the spread of the blaze, the flames quickly devoured LaTourette's store, the Wilson & Hickey Restaurant, and Mrs. Bate's Millinery Shop, and did considerable damage to the Post Office. Adding to the loss, due to the fire, was widespread looting of these and nearby stores.

The editors of the Tribune sounded a plea for "a well-organized hook and ladder company, a hose cart, and crew to man it -- and especially, the need for an increased number of fireplugs in the downtown area". As a result of that plea, in 1885 a number of McCook businessmen stepped up with donations of money. 20 young men volunteered for the first fire department, and Banker/Civic Booster, Geo. Hocknell, donated a fire hose cart. The village board promised to provide more fireplugs.

Apparently there was some friction within the city's first fire department, because in 1889 two additional, independent, volunteer fire companies, the B & M Hose Company and the Boyd Hook and Ladder Company both came into being, each with 20 members. For the next three years there were three fire companies answering fire alarms. In 1892 the three companies were united into the McCook Fire Dept., under Chief J.H. Dwyer. The new headquarters was located in the back half of the old First National Bank building (Mr. Hocknell's Bank) on C St. After 1893 the City of McCook Fire Department ceased to be an all-volunteer force, and full-time firemen were paid.

According to the 1893 McCook Souvenir, published by the McCook Times-Democrat, for distribution at the Chicago World's Fair, honoring Columbus' journey to the New World, McCook leaders were sure that they had the water situation well under control. "There is nothing so necessary for domestic and business purposes (as an ample supply of pure water), and a city which fails in this, must eventually fail. Most cities think they cannot afford an expensive system of water works until they have attained considerable wealth and population, and trust to the precarious supply to be furnished by wells, which invariably fail in dry seasons.

"McCook, on the contrary has had water works from the first. Commenced originally by the Lincoln Land Company in 1882, it has been enlarged and extended as needed since that time. At the present time C. H. Meeker is the obliging and efficient Superintendent of the McCook Waterworks."

Originally the Lincoln Land Company made a flat water rate to homeowners in order to encourage water use, but in 1906 the water system was transferred to an independent company, the McCook Waterworks Co., and that company installed meters, which were not immediately popular, since they increased water costs for most users.

In 1908 it was proposed that McCook construct its own municipal water plant, and the question was put to the voters. The vote was 370 to 285 in favor of issuing $85,000 in bonds to construct the municipal plant. The result of this election -- the creation of a new, McCook municipal water plant -- enabled the McCook Waterworks Company to sell its plant and its entire water system to the City of McCook in 1911. The purchase price for the city was $65,000.

Source: McClelland's Early History of McCook, McCook Columbian Souvenir 1893, McCook Memories