RESERVOIR

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 10: BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Series 12: LAND USE
Reservoir
1916 – present

Reservoir. Photo by Sally Loomis, 1930. [nace_1_054a.jpg]

Reservoir, 1916 – present

TAGS: Water supply, reservoir, limestone spring water, Ethel de Long, Philip Norcross, engineers, septic tanks

The Reservoir was begun in 1916 and work continued until its final completion in 1918. It has performed its duties now for over 100 years.

The issue of water was obviously at the top of the founder’s list of “to-dos.” By May of 1913, Miss Ethel de Long, the School’s co-founder, wrote to the Advisory Board and reported on a number of consultancies, of which one concerned the construction of a reservoir. Mr. Philip Norcross, an engineer from Atlanta, was located and he agreed to provide pro bono advice and details on building a reservoir and septic tanks for the new school.

In 1931 the structure was reworked to remedy problems with seepage and structural cracks.

One of the most important structures at the School, this main water source has been consistent in its supply of some of the best limestone spring water in the area.