Property Record
S 4TH AVE E
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | WASHBURN PUMPHOUSE |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 153861 |
| Location (Address): | S 4TH AVE E |
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| County: | Bayfield |
| City: | Washburn |
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| Year Built: | 1889 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20081975 |
| Historic Use: | water utility |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brownstone |
| Architect: | D. M. MAXEY & CO. |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| Additional Information: | THE BUILDING'S ORIGINAL WINDOWS HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED AND IT NOW HAS A METAL ROOF BUT THE EXTERIOR IS STILL LARGELY INTACT. THIS IS WASHBURN'S OLDEST SURVIVING MUNICIPALLY SPONSORED BUILDING. The pumphouse was built to serve as Washburn's waterworks system and was constructed of locally quarried brownstone. It originally housed two steam boilers with a total of 160 horsepower, which provided power for two Deane pumps that drew water from Lake Superior up to the reservoir and through four miles of pipe. The building's original large smokestack no longer exists. Washburn granted a franchise to construct, operate, and maintain the waterworks to Weston Lewis and J.S. Maxcy. In turn, the gave the construction contract to Moffat, Hodgkins, and Clarke of Watertown, New York. J.L. "Jack" Smith worked as timekeeper on the construction, and over the next 50 years, he served as the superintendent. Several family members followed in his footsteps in subsequent years. In 1934, after several years of litigation, the City of Washburn took over the operation of the waterworks, but the Smith family stayed on. After the great fire of 1889 leveled all the wooden buildings in Washburn, buildings made of stone, as well as the efficient delivery of water through a reliable water system in Washburn became increasingly important. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Washburn Heritage Preservation Association. Wood, Stone, and Water: Washburn Walking Tour. Bayfield: Roslyn Nelson, 2005. P. 49. THE WASHBURN NEWS: MAY 11, 1889, P. 6; OCTOBER 26, 1889. WASHBURN ITEMIZER: AUG. 8, 1889, P. 5; OCT. 31, 1889, P. 2. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |