CARIBOU — The Caribou Utilities District has served its customers within the city of Caribou since 1889. The year 2014 marks the 125th anniversary of the initiation of operations of the Water Company, and the 109th year of operation of the Sewer Company. This history was compiled by Superintendent Alan Hitchcock in June 2009 for the Caribou Sesquicentennial Celebration.
The Caribou Water Company was chartered by the Maine Legislature on March 11, 1887 to provide a supply of water for the town.This was not the first waterworks in Caribou, but it was the most comprehensive. An early water system captured water from springs above Elizabeth Street. Water was piped by gravity through hollowed wooden pipes buried in the ground to several watering basins around town. Reportedly these were located at the intersections of Prospect and Sweden streets, Main and Sweden streets and along Water Street.
The Caribou Water Company was chartered by the Maine Legislature on March 11, 1887 to provide a supply of water for the Town of Caribou. The original incorporators were L.R. King, Weston Lewis, J.S. Maxcy, S.W. Collins, G.I. Trickey, Jefferson Cary, L.C. Stearns, Chas. F. Thomas, O.P. Stevenson, J.A. Clark, H.M. Heath, A.G. Bradstreet, W.E. Maxcy, O.A. Tuell, and A.M. Spear. The first General Manager was E.E. Haynes. The original stock of the company was $60,000 at $100 per share.
This was not the first waterworks in Caribou, but it was the most comprehensive. An early water system captured water from springs above Elizabeth Street. Water was piped by gravity through hollowed wooden pipes buried in the ground to several watering basins around town. Reportedly these were located at the intersections of Prospect and Sweden Streets, Main and Sweden Streets and along Water Street. At each location a spigot was installed for the public to fill pails and the overflow was directed into watering tubs for livestock, especially the many horses which were the primary means of transportation at that time.
On June 28, 1888, the Town of Caribou and the Water Company signed a contract for water service and fire protection. On October 31, 1888 H.M. Tidd, a Boston Engineer was in Caribou to locate the site of the waterworks. It was estimated that the site selected would provide about 9500 gross horsepower and a water supply for the Town. T.J. Emery of Waterville, an experienced bridge builder, arrived in November of that year to arrange construction of a dam across the Aroostook River. Jacob Hardison of Caribou was hired as a local agent and S.W. Collins was contracted to provide lumber for the dam, which required over three million board feet. During the summer of 1889 work on the dam was underway with a large crew of men housed near the worksite. The dam was constructed of heavy wooden cribs, or boxes filled with large rocks as ballast. Wooden piles were driven at the upstream face to secure the dam to the river bottom. The top and faces were covered with wood planking to reduce seepage. A blacksmith shop was constructed near the site to provide metal fabrications for the project. The blacksmith shop burned and had to be replaced. The 425-foot timber crib dam was completed on October 19, 1889 near the site of the present dam. The pool above the dam had a head of about 14 feet and provided a water supply for the Town.
A brick pumping station was constructed near the dam and water was initially pumped from the river by a steam engine through cast iron pipes up Lyndon Street to the village streets for use by customers. In June of 1889 the Aroostook Republican reported that the standpipe and pumping station were connected by a Bell telephone. This means of communication allowed the pumping station to fill the standpipe as required. The pump arrived in October of 1889 and was installed by a Boston contractor. Twenty-five fire hydrants and about four miles of cast iron water pipe were initially provided for fire protection. For furnishing water to all the public buildings including schools and for fire protection in the village area, the Company was exempted from property taxes and the Town of Caribou paid the Company $2000 per year. The water was not filtered, but it was later disinfected by the addition of chlorine gas to kill bacteria.
During July and August of 1889 work crews were busy digging trenches to install cast iron water pipes under the town streets. Daniel Lacey, Esq. a Boston contractor along with his son William supervised the construction of about 4 miles of water pipe. Between 40 and 50 local men were employed to dig the trenches with picks and shovels, often installing several hundred feet per day. A steel tank was constructed on North Main Street on the same location as the present North Main Low Service tank to serve as a reservoir. The tank was 30 feet in diameter by 30 feet high and held 150,000 gallons. By October applications for water service were being accepted. Rates were fixed based upon the number of faucets, bathrooms and livestock on the property. Typical rates were $10 for the first faucet and $3 for each additional, $5 for a water closet or tub, and $5 for the first horse or cow, and $3 for each additional animal. Water meters were later installed which allowed customers to be billed according to their water consumption.
J.F. Hubert, of the Maher Electric Company of Boston arrived in February 1888 to supervise construction of an electrical power plant. Initially a steam engine was installed to drive an electric dynamo to produce electricity. The boiler was first fired on February 15, 1888. During the spring and summer of 1888 wood poles and copper wires were extended from the power plant to the village. During 1888 over 200 electric lights had been installed in town and more were on the way. In the same year the Town requested that electric lights be installed on the Aroostook River Bridge and on various town streets. In 1891, the Caribou Water Company was authorized by the Legislature to generate and sell electric power to Caribou and Fort Fairfield. In 1893, the Caribou Electric Light Company was formed as part of the Water Company. In 1895, the Legislature authorized the Company to extend electric power to Washburn and Presque Isle. In February of 1892, two new waterwheels were installed in the powerhouse adjacent to the dam. These powered two dynamo generators, which produced electricity for lighting, heating and to power electric motors. The old steam-powered dynamos were sold to the Presque Isle Electric Light Company
The history of Caribou’s Water Company will continue in next week’s issue.
