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Water Department History

Congdon Spring, View from Lower Spring House photo by J. Swartz

St. Johnsville is in an enviable situation with water supply, thanks to the foresight of our forefathers. Many thanks to Jeff Swartz, who spent a lot of time in the village archives, gleaning the information and then writing about our water history. Our water system is well thought out and has served the village with a plentiful supply. In 1998, St. Johnsville was given the award for the best tasting water in New York State.

-March 13, 1946 Little Falls Felt Shoe requested that a valve be installed on the main water line on Hough St.

-April 1, 1946 elections with Ray Nellis appointed Superintendent of Water, Park and Sewer Dept. for $138.60 per month salary and Raymond Walrath and Robert Perry Asst. Water Supt.

-May 14, 1946 Ray Hillegas was given permission to dig a ditch on West Main St. to repair the water line to his gas station and replace the street in accordance with specifications of NYS Dept. of Highways.

-June 25, 1946 clerk was instructed to type a list of work to be completed by the Water Supt. Including getting the swimming pool ready, flush the waterlines from Lassellsville to the Reservoir and clean out the reservoir at North Division St.

-July 9, 1946 a 10 % raise was given to all department heads including the Water Supt.

-August 13, 1946 NYS Dept of Health recommended purchasing a new chlorinator of rebuild the present one.

-September 23, 1946 a new Wallace & Tiernan Chlorinator was purchased for $1645.

-January 28, 1947 Roy Nellis resigned as Water Superintendent. Arthur Handy was appointed new Water Supt. For $152.46 per month.

-April 2, 1947 elections with Arthur Handy appointed Water Superintendent for $152.46 per month and Robert Perry, Raymond Walrath and Melvin Gray appointed Asst. Water Supt.

-May 27, 1947 a new 1947 Ford pickup was purchased from Willard Ottman for $1077.93 for use of the water dept.

-August 12, 1947 NYS Dept. of Health Engineer Taggart was glad to se both reservoirs were being chlorinated.

-October 28, 1947 a $200 salary increase was given to all Dept. heads including the Water Supt.

-November 25, 1947 Mayor Dievendorf invited a group of business men to meet with the board and Engineer Vrooman to discuss the need of a new domestic reservoir.

-December 9, 1947 it was decided that a new reservoir be constructed for domestic use. A resolution was made to bond for $35,000 for 20 years for this construction.

-January 20, 1948 Morrell Vrooman was retained as consulting and designing engineer in connection with the planning and laying out and general supervision of construction of a water storage reservoir for a fee of $2800.

-February 16, 1948 Resolution authorizing the construction of a new reservoir for the water supply system at a total estimated maximum cost of $40,000 with $35,000 in bonds used and $5000 in surplus water funds.

-February 24, 1948 water usage rates were increased for domestic users to $7 every six months for any quantity of water consumed less than four thousand cubic feet and any excess shall be charged at the current rate schedule.

-April 5, 1948 elections held with Arthur Handy appointed Water Superintendent for $194.48 per month and Melvin Gray, Raymond Walrath and Robert Perry as Asst. Water Superintendents. Arthur Handy has been accepted as a Grade III water treatment plant operator. Letter from Palatine Dyeing Co. Inc. requesting a second connection to the 8 inch commercial water supply line.

-April 7, 1948 previously purchased war bonds totally $6000 were cashed in for the new reservoir construction.

-May 28, 1948 bids were opened for the new standpipe (dome) with Weber Construction Co. from Schenectady being low bidder at $43,463.

-August 27, 1948 a geophone for locating leaks and a tunneling scoop were purchased for the water dept.

-October 26, 1948 Morrell Vrooman discussed the water rate structure with a plan to compile a new rate schedule for both commercial and domestic users.

-November 9, 1948 an agreement was signed for cooperation under the Forest Practice Act for the watershed.

-December 14, 1948 a bronze plaque was ordered to be placed on the new standpipe (dome) for $72.54.

-December 28, 1948 Arthur Handy died. Duane Horman was appointed temporary Water Supt. At the salary of $194.48.

-January 4, 1949 Duane Horman resigned as Water Supt. Barlett McGee was appointed temporary Water Supt. For $194.48 per month.

-February 8, 1949 the New York State Conservation Dept. advised that the badly damaged timber in the watershed would be marked and cut, also that there is a possibility of enough timber on the north side (11 acres) to warrant commercial operation and they would cruise the same and cooperate in getting this done. The board agreed to have the Conservation Dept take care of this.

-February 22, 1949 a new Philgas heater was purchased for the chlorinator plant for $25.75.

-April 5, 1949 elections with Bart McGee appointed Supt. of Water, Park and Sewer Dept. for $194.48 per month and Raymond Walrath and Robert Perry are Asst. Supt.

-May 25, 1949 agreed upon that all workers, no matter what department or type of work being done will be paid 80 cents per hour.

-August 23, 1949 a 1949 Ford pickup was purchased from Willard Ottman for the water dept. for $1452.50, and a row boat was purchased from Leo Fitzpatrick for $30 for use at Yauney Dam. The Pitometer Co. from New York was hired to check the water system for leaks.

-September 27, 1949 Floyd Cool was allowed to clean out the tops that were dropped at the watershed when the trees were cut. Palatine Dyeing Co. would like to purchase more water from the village is the supply and pressure would be adequate, and it was decided to ask for bids to clean out the commercial supply line.

-October 12, 1949 Morrell Vrooman, Engineer, was authorized to draw plans and specifications for the repair to Yauney Dam, cleaning Zimmerman Dam, and install necessary blow offs and valves on domestic system within the village.

-October 22, 1949 Pittsburgh Pipe Cleaning Co., being the low bidder at $2487.50, was hired to clean the commercial waterline.

-October 26, 1949 Fred Clemons Jr. was contracted to clean out Zimmerman Dam for $1750. Advertisements were to be published for the repairs and reconstruction of Yauney Dam and Zimmerman Dam.

-November 14, 1949 Fred Clemons Jr. of St. Johnsville was awarded the bid for the work at Yauney and Zimmerman Dam for $11,892. (Yauney Dam work was the building of the valve house and installing bypass pipes)

-December 27, 1949 Fred Clemons Jr. was paid $1081.85 for sluicing Zimmerman Dam. (believed to be adding the current mud valve)

-January 24, 1950 resolution adopted for bonding an additional $11,000 for additional expenses on construction of the standpipe reservoir (dome)

-April 5, 1950 a pipe locator was purchased for $149.50. elections as follows with Bart McGee be appointed Water Supt. for $194.48 per month and Melvin Gray, Raymond Walrath and Robert Perry are Asst. Water Supt.

-April 18, 1950 12 acres of land was purchased from William and Jesse Cool in Lassellsville for $500. Motion carried that legal action be brought against the New York Central Railroad Company for monies owed for the use of water from October 10, 1934 to June 1, 1948.

-May 9, 1950 new water rates proposed by Morrell Vrooman were adopted.

-August 8, 1950 Mayor Lampman requested a vote be taken that Supt. of the Water Dept. Bart McGee be requested to resign his job for insubordination, but the vote was not taken as he was given a second chance.

-October 10, 1950 George Flanders from Shelp & Warner appeared to quote the cost for furnishing and erecting a Quonset building over Congdon Springs but no action was taken.

-December 12, 1950 Alfred Hayes was contracted to tear down existing spring house building at Congdon Springs and build a new building for $1400.

-December 26, 1950 Fred Clemons Jr. was hired to supervise the cleaning of the storage reservoir for domestic supply. (Congdon Springs)

-January 23, 1951 Bart McGee resigned as Water Supt. effective February 1, 1951. It was decided to try and combine the Street Supt. and Water Supt. jobs and offer the job to Melvin Gray.

-February 13, 1951 Arthur Galusha was appointed Supt. of Water, Park and Sewer Dept. for $233.32 per month.

-March 13, 1951 hourly employee wages were set at $1 per hour.

-April 2, 1951 elections held as follows Arthur Galusha was appointed Water Supt. for $233.32 per month with Melvin Gray, Raymond Walrath and Robert Perry appointed Asst. Supt.

-June 26, 1951 clerk was instructed to send a letter to Road Supt. Ed Johnson, Town of Ephratah, to have the town repair roads to Yauney and Zimmerman.

-July 10, 1951 3 gate valves and boxes were purchased for 3 new blowoff valves to be installed on the southside of the village.

-December 11, 1951 letter was read from Morrell Vrooman relative to a filtration plant for the water works.

-March 25, 1952 the Street and Water Supt. was combined into the Superintendent of Public Works with Arthur Galusha appointed this position for $3500 per year.

-April 1, 1952 elections held with the Superintendent of Public Works position officially made permanent. Arthur Galusha was appointed Supt. for $333.33 per month. Raymond Walrath and Robert Perry were appointed Asst. Supt.

-September 9, 1952 the NYS Dept. of Health advised the village board that Chris Satterlee and the Village Inn in Lassellsville, must discontinue using village water without chlorinating.

-October 28, 1952 Morrell Vrooman Sr. discussed the problem of treating the commercial water to make it suitable for use by Palatine Dyeing Co. Inc. Morrell Vrooman was hired to make a study of the quantity and chemical content of the water.

-December 9, 1952 a Mueller Tapping machine was purchased for the water dept.

-April 6, 1953 elections as follows Arthur Galusha was appointed Supt. of Public Works for $333.33 per month. This was done after an executive session as Melvin Gray returned from his illness and requested to be reappointed to his position of Street Supt. as he was before his illness and the board combined the water and street supt. position. The board decided to keep the positions combined.

-April 14, 1953 hourly employee wages were increased to $1.15 per hour.

-May 26, 1953 the residence in Lassellsville currently tapped into the Village of St.Johnsville water line will be notified they must disconnect from this source within 60 days with this action motivated of necessity by advice to the Village of St.Johnsville from the village board of health and NYS Dept. of Health.

-July 28, 1953 the fire hydrant on West Liberty St. located between the residence of Vincent Pontius and Edward Swartz was to be moved before winter at the request of Mr. Pontius.

-March 9, 1954 the clerk was instructed to contact Chris Satterlee of Lassellsville, allowing 30 days to make arrangements to secure water from another source, or his supply would be cut off form the village commercial water line. This was in accordance with instructions from the NYS Dept. of Health.

-April 6, 1954 elections held with Arthur Galusha appointed Supt. of Public Works for $333.32 per month and Raymond Walrath and Robert Perry Asst. Supt. Mayor Wilfred Kraft submitted a statement on the affairs of the village; there is approximately $75,000 in bonds outstanding for the water system and are being retired at about $7,000 each year.

-April 13, 1954 a new Aqua valve locator was purchased for the water dept. for $27.50.

-April 27, 1953 hourly employees were raised to $1.20 per hour.

-July 13, 1954 discussion on allowing water service extension to residences west of the Village of St.Johnsville on Rte. 5 and decided anyone interested should advise the clerk or mayor.

-August 24, 1954 Supt. Galusha discussed planned work and tentative expansion of the village waterline. (unknown where)

-September 14, 1954 Palatine Dyeing Co. requested permission to change the water supply of the North Division St. building from commercial to domestic main for fire protection.

-November 9, 1954 New York Central Railroad was advised it will be impossible to maintain the water line unless some agreement can be made as to more revenue.

-April 5, 1955 elections with Arthur Galusha appointed Supt. of Public Works and Raymond Walrath and Robert Perry Asst. Supt.

-April 12, 1955 a 6 inch blow off valve was to be installed on the end of Hough Street. Supt. Galusha requested a pay raise if one was given to the Police Dept.

-April 26, 1955 500 feet of wire mesh fence was purchased for the watershed from A. Horns & Sons. Decided to purchase 250 feet of cement asbestos 6 inch pipe to install the blowoff on Hough Street.

-August 23, 1955 a report from the State Conservation Dept. was read showing a tally of the timber which they marked for cutting on the watershed property, the estimate being 56,000 board feet of soft wood and 10,000 board feet of hardwood. Fred Clemons Jr. was contracted to cut the above timber.

-September 13, 1955 the State Conservation Dept. was allowed to plant 5000 jack pine trees at the watershed for $9 per 1,000.

-September 27, 1955 Palatine Dye Co. requested to be supplied with more water.

-October 11, 1955 Burgess Construction Co. was contracted to build a concrete dam at Yauney reservoir to increase the water storage, approximate height to be 2 ½ feet at a cost of $620.

-October 25, 1955 Howard Smith of Lassellsville was allowed to clean the tops of trees left behind from the logging by Fred Clemons Jr. in the watershed.

-November 7, 1955 the Wallace & Tiernan chlorinator was sent back for repairs.

-November 22, 1955 a wall type Wallace & Tiernan chlorinator was purchased as a stand by for $700.

-February 14, 1956 a letter was from the State Conservation Dept. regarding disease of Woodgate gall rust on scotch pine trees at the watershed.

-April 2, 1956 elections held with Arthur Galusha appointed Supt. of Public Works for $333.33 per month, no Assistant Superintendents were appointed.

-April 25, 1956 decided that the commercial water meters were to be read every six months as the domestic meters are.

-September 25, 1956 Supt. Galusha that the fence around Congdon Springs had not been erected yet.

-April 1, 1957 organizational meeting held with Arthur Galusha appointed Supt. of Public Works for $4150 per year.

-May 28, 1957 C.J. Burgess & Co. Inc. was paid $1043.44 for laying waterline on Kingsbury Ave. A drinking fountain was to be purchased to be placed at the corner of Center Street and Main Street.

-October 22, 1957 the NYS Health Dept. stated that an assistant should be appointed and trained to take care of the chlorinator plant.

-December 10, 1957 H.B. Russelmann , District Sanitary Engineer, sent a letter regarding tapping on the 8 inch village water supply line to install hydrants for fire protection to families north of the Village of St.Johnsville, there was no action taken.

-April 7, 1958 organizational meeting with Arthur Galusha appointed Supt. of Public Works for $4150 per year and given three weeks vacation.

-April 22, 1958 Ralph Hill was considering accepting the position as Asst. Supt. of Public Works, pending completion of needed schooling required.

-June 10, 1958 Milburn Monk requested that a fence be built along the watershed and his property.

-June 24, 1958 discussion on the washing away of the south bank at the reservoir and of filling it in with flat stones or shale.

-August 12, 1958 Letter read from Eastern Lumber Company in regard to flooding of their lands at the village water reservoir and the boundaries of this land.

-September 9, 1958 Frank DeNure was contracted to paint the buildings at Yauney Dam, Congdon Springs and Zimmerman Dam. It was discussed to purchase a water meter flow tester but decided it was impossible for a meter to overcharge usage.

-September 23, 1958 problems were discussed with water pressure with the use of the water elevator at the Little Falls Felt Shoe Co.

-October 14, 1958 Frank Gehring representing Helmont Mills asked permission to connect to the commercial waterline. The board stated this line was in need of repair and recently had several breaks, but would be looked into.

-October 28, 1958 the St. Johnsville Supply Co. requested a 6 inch waterline be extended to their property.

-November 12, 1958 decided some consideration should be given to harvesting such timber that is ready to be cut at the reservoir so as to prevent timber deteriorating.

-December 9, 1958 Dr. Harold Attman, NYS Dept. of Health District Health Officer, advised that the commercial waterline could be brought into the Helmont Mills building as long as commercial and domestic water can not cross-connect.

-December 22, 1958 letter of resignation was read from Arthur Galusha as Supt. of Public Works.

-December 29, 1958 Donald Nellis was hired as an employee of the Dept. of Public Works at $1.35 per hour to learn the Supt. job.

-January 13, 1959 Ralph Hill was appointed Acting Supt. Of Public Works for $70 per week.

-January 27, 1959 letter was written to Montgomery County Civil Service Commission to make necessary arrangements to place the Supt. of Public Works under civil service. It was brought out that Helmont Mills would have to pay for piping from the existing water main and that the high content (does not say of what) was caused from the source of supply and that this should be taken care of by cleaning up the brush, dead trees, etc. near the source. A sluice gate had been purchased for Zimmerman Dam but never installed, and recommended that in order to over come the cause of the color trouble that considerable cleaning be done at the source of supply. Again a request was made of the need of harvesting timber in the watershed.

-February 10, 1959 Helmont Mills was authorized to tap the commercial waterline nearest their property.

-April 17, 1959 Carmen Giaquinto was appointed Supt. of Public Works.

-May 26, 1959 a new heater was purchased for the chlorinator plant for $75.

-June 23, 1959 preparations were completed for the cleaning out of Zimmerman Dam and installing the new mud gate. Milburn Monk was leased a right-of-way across Village of St.Johnsville watershed lands in the Town of Ephratah on a year to year basis at a rental of $1 per year.

-July 14, 1959 reported on how the Fire Department gave assistance in the cleaning of Zimmerman Dam and at the distribution plant. More brush will be cut at the reservoir. Discussion on using the domestic spring water in the swimming pool which would necessitate the commercial water to be used for drinking purposes, other sources were to be looked at first.

-August 11, 1959 in view of the fact that the Supt. of Public Works makes daily visits to the water works, the services of Mr. Alonzo Smith for inspection of the dams was discontinued.

-October 13, 1959 reported that Yauney Res. is again full of water and spilling over, and that approx. 500 feet of water pipe will be needed to bring fresh water to the marina.

-October 27, 1959 agreed if the water shut off is broken when the water meter is turned off, the cost of replacement is to be made by the village. ( believed to mean the curb valve). The Supt. is instructed to remove the board from Yauney Dam.

-November 10, 1959 Resolution asking the NYS Water Power and Control Commission for approval to increase in the storage capacity of Yauney Dam by placing a small dam, raising the spillway elevation.

-November 24, 1959 The Conservation Dept. gave permission to blow out the beaver dams. Supt. Carmen Giaquinto, Richard Shannon and William VanSlyke were to attend the Water Plant Operation Course in Albany.

-December 22, 1959 letter read from the Dept. of Audit and Control in regard to the Village of St.Johnsville assuming the cost of repairing private water supply lines between the curb cocks and water mains.

-February 23, 1960 State of New York Conservation Dept. stated the watershed lands are now enrolled under the Forest Protection Act and asked permission to establish such a plot in the red pine plantation bordering Rte 29 east of Lassellsville.

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