GJWA Historical Documents
The office of the Johnstown Water Company was originally located at 420 Main Street. The company expanded rapidly, and to meet the need for extra space, a room was rented in the old Young Ments Christian Association building on Main Street in 1897. however this was only a makeshift solution and proved inadequate. Therefore on March 28, 1911 the Johnstown Water Company bought the Robert Sagerson property at the corner of Locust Street and Potts Place. The building, 332 Locust Street, was remodeled for a cost of about $5000 after it was purchased. A major addition was made to the building in 1924. In 1956-57 further extensive remodeling was done. The building remains the Johnstown office of the Johnstown, Saltlick and The Manufacturers water companies.
A highlight of the Johnstown Water Company s system is the new Benscreek operating station, constructed in 1957. This station has a remote control system which makes it possible to regulate all pumping operations from one central point. A variety of functions are remotely directed from this small electronic center over leased telephone lines, including:
The Johnstown Water Company also owns a shop and garage building at Broad Street and Delaware Avenue in the Sixteenth Ward of the city of Johnstown. This property, known as the "yard" houses the company1s heavy equipment and supplies, has garages for the company trucks and provides offices for the general foreman and the other foremen. The buildings in the yard were constructed in 1928-1929.
The Johnstown Water Company also owns four caretakers houses located by the four reservoirs of the company. Each house was built or improved by the company and each caretaker and his family live in the house. The oldest caretaker?s house is located at North Fork Reservoir. It was not built by the company, but was bought by them in 1922, transported to its present site in 1937 and renovated. It is a two-story frame and fieldstone house. In 1952 the caretaker's house at Laurel Run Reservoir was completed. It is a two-story brick house. The home of the caretaker at Millcreek, a one-story brick ranch-type house, was built in 19514. The Dalton Run Reservoir caretaker's house is a split-level brick home built in 1960-1961.
