Text By Jane Welch Peterson, Nghia Ha & Dave Gawtry
Images provided by: The Leo Blouin Family and donated to Rumford Area Historical Society
As the Town of Rumford became the boomtown of Maine in the early 20th century, the need for a substantial source of quality potable water for its residents grew with it. There were three small water districts in the area, with limited reservoirs in each section. However, the growth of the mills had also greatly increased the need for water, beyond the capabilities of these facilities. Therefore, the town officials determined it was necessary to have one unified water district and water supply source.
The Town of Rumford formed the Board of Water District Trustees in March, 1911. Said Trustees were: Charles M. Bisbee, Cleon S. Osgood, and Arthur Gauthier. The Charter for the Rumford and Mexico Water District (Mexico later withdrew) was approved by the Maine Legislature in September, 1911.
The engineering firm of Metcalf & Eddy, of Boston, was hired to assess a suitable location for a new, larger water reservoir to meet the growing town’s needs. Several regional streams were considered for using as a water source for a greatly expanded reservoir. The engineering firm selected the Mt. Zircon Brook in South Rumford as the best water source, due to its potential as a possible dam site.
Another engineering firm of Boston, Sawyer & Moulton, prepared a report to the Board of trustees, Jan. 17, 1913, comparing the proposals submitted by Metcalf & Eddy and E. Worthington, C.E. of Dedham. Massachusetts. Subsequent to this report, the bid for construction was awarded to Metcalf & Eddy with E. Worthington as the engineer, as of March 22, 1913.
Stripping of the land to be used as the “basin” for the reservoir was begun June 1, 1913. The contract for completing the task of “removing trees, bushes, and all vegetable matter” was awarded to James McGregor Bros. of Rumford, ME.
McGregor was responsible for hiring men and the teams of horses, and procuring supplies to build the concrete core and gatehouse. According to a draft contract which gives an idea of the pay scale of those days, each laborer was to be paid $1.75 per day for a nine-hour day; a double team of horses and driver was to be paid $4.50 per day for a nine-hour day; the first foreman was to receive $4.00 per day for a nine-hour day; and other foremen were to receive $3.00 per day for the nine-hour day.
The workmen and horses, hired by local contractor, James M. McGregor, cleared the “basin” for the Mt. Zircon Reservoir. The contractor’s contract with the Board of Trustees required that all work be started by April 1, 1913 and be completed “no later than November 1, 1913.”The contract was signed March 31, 1913 and McGregor’s low bid was for $110,000. However, due to an injury sustained by Mr. McGregor while laying the main 24” pipe, and the onset of the winter of 1913-1914, work was stopped until the spring of 1914.
The crew constructed an approximately 100 ft. long bridge from the top of the dam to the gatehouse. The gatehouse was to be of a circular form with a 10 foot interior diameter. The three gates to maintain water flow were located inside. Special considerations of the impact of winter’s ice on the gatehouse were addressed in the Sawyer & Moulton Report.
The concrete core walls of the dam (4 ft. thick) sit on solid ledge. The dam is 842 ft. above sea level, making it one of the three highest dams in Maine. It is 847 ft. long; is 57 ft. high at its center; and floods 21 acres. When at full capacity, it held 110,000,000 gallons of water.
A small cabin can be seen in the background of the photo which shows the empty reservoir in August, 1914. During World War II, the reservoir was under constant surveillance against possible sabotage of drinking water sources. The patrolman who utilized the cabin was Asa West, who resided with his wife, Alda, at their farm near the confluence of the Mt. Zircon Brook and the Androscoggin River.
His granddaughter, Janette West Blouin, who still resides next to the existing West farm, recalls hearing from her parents that some of the workmen at the Reservoir boarded with Asa and Alda while construction was ongoing. She herself remembers that as a small child she would take a picnic lunch up to the dam cabin to meet her grandfather and patrol the perimeter of the dam with Asa. His attendance to his duties was verified by punching a “time clock” mechanism at periodic locations along the dam’s perimeter.
According to the Report to the Board of Trustees, dated March 27, 1915 by Head Engineer, E. Worthington, all work was done by August 17 and on August 18, the drain pipe was closed. By November 16, 1914, the “water from Mt. Zircon supply was first turned into the pipes for general use. The Basin was filled February 25th, 1915 so as to first discharge over the overflow”.
The Safe Drinking Water Act of the 1990’s made open reservoirs, unless treated prior to consumption, unacceptable in Maine. Therefore, the use of the Mt. Zircon Reservoir was discontinued by the Town of Rumford. In addition, the dam was lowered below the spillway level to preclude any possibility of dam failure, due to its advanced years. This reduced the capacity of the reservoir by about one-half from its original planned level.
Sources:
Rumford Water District – A Short History by Brian Gagnon, Superintendent, Rumford Water District
Report to the Trustees of the Rumford Falls and Mexico Water Supply District, January 17, 1913, by Walter H. Sawyer, Sawyer & Moulton
Copy of a Draft Contract between Rumford and Mexico Water District, Rumford, Maine…Contract for Stripping Basin Mt. Zircon Brook Supply, 1914 – (Between Trustees and James M. McGregor)
Report to the Board of Trustees, by Head Engineer, E. Worthington , of Dedham, MA, March 27, 1915.
Rumford and Mexico Water District, Rumford, Maine. Specifications, Contract and Bond for Mt. Zircon Brook Supply, March 31, 1913.
Personal Interview with Janette West Blouin, October 12, 2012
Second Annual Report, Rumford and Mexico Water District, 1914, Year Ending March 31.