District of Lake View's
Let's Begin with
Location Maps:
The City of Lake View (former township) was annexed in 1889 to the City of Chicago and became the District of Lake View until official 'communities' were established by 1930. The same territorial space of the City of Lake View was the same territory of the new Chicago Lake View District - Western Avenue to the west, Devon Avenue to the north, Fullerton Avenue to the south, and east to the then existing lakefront
The Water Works/Tunnel/Crib/Piping in 1896
the proposed crib on map would be the Wilson Crib by 1917
photos from Ebay below
1910 photo - Chicago History Museum
along with interior of the crib - Library of Congress
One reason for the massive 1889 annexation [of the townships & City of Lake View] was the high
quality of water provision within Chicago. It took decades for Chicago's water
department to service the vastly increased territory within the confines of the
city. The water department had the difficult task of integrating many small
systems into one large one, as well as extending service into areas which
previously had not received water. By 1902, only Rogers Park, Norwood Park, and
Austin, former suburban settlements on the extreme edges of the city, remained
outside the boundaries of water extensions. While no further major annexations
took place, by 1990 Chicago's water department was providing water to 90
suburban communities, as well as the city itself.Lake Michigan remains the main source of water in the
metropolitan area. In 1900, the Sanitary District of Chicago completed the
28-mile Sanitary and Ship canal to reverse the flow of the Chicago River away
from Lake Michigan, thereby improving the quality of lake water. Canada as well
as neighboring states opposed the diversion of Lake Michigan water, and Supreme
Court decisions limited the amount of Lake Michigan water that could be
diverted into the Sanitary and Ship Canal (1930) and the water supply for
Illinois communities (1967). As a result, the amount of water which any
community in the state may draw from Lake Michigan is regulated by the Illinois
Department of Transportation's Division of Water Resources. Because of these
legal limitations on Illinois' use of Lake Michigan water, new allocations come
at the expense of existing users and contribute to the continuing highly
charged debate about water in the Chicago area. - by Ann Durkin KeatingThe Supply of Water in 1891
Extension of the tunnel and
construction of the crib
Crib and Tunnel
Maintenance 1892
The Tunnel
The tunnel from the Crib to the pumping station was completed in 1891. The Crib was destroyed in 1924
text - Dept of Chicago Public Works 1891
View and read about the shoreline of Lake Michigan before the existence of roads along the lakefront from my sister site
LakeView Historical-Facebook called
(Facebook Album)
1924 demolition photo below
Chicago History Museum
of the Water Works of Lake View
when Lake View was a township
a zoomed 1887 Sanborn Fire Map of the location
Lake View's first pumping station was authorized for construction by the township in 1875. The second station was constructed just south of the original by 1915 when the area was then referred to as the District of Lake View. Both stations were located on Clarendon & Montrose Avenues. The station supplied a large portion of Chicago's water needs throughout the first half of the 20th century. The equipment at the second site included three Nordberg pumping engines & a Bethlehem Steel Company pumping engine, all with a capacity of pumping 25 million gallons per day. The second & last station, abandon for decades, was demolished in 1979.
a 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
The first Lake View Township Water Works Pumping Station operational 1876-1913 and then replaced
by a more modern facility
by a more modern facility
the replacement diagram above
A temporary building was constructed to streamline the process from one building to another
the temporary centrifuge
A temporary station needed to be built so continue the water supply to the residents of Lake View
one building is razed while the building rises
The second pumping station 1913-1959
View of Montrose Avenue after the pipe vault was buried
Illustrations of the Second Pumping Station
image 1
Illustrations of the Second Pumping Station
image 1
a Lawrence Avenue Beach view south
with pumping station chimney in background - unknown date
Ravenswood-Lake View Community Collection
a 1928 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of the area
a zoomed view below of the station below
This 1928 Sanborn Fire Map shows not only pumping station but also the Clarendon Public Bathing Beach facility along the Clarendon Avenue - once the most popular beach location
in the north-side at the time.
photos - Friends of Cuneo-Facebook
view west on Montrose Avenue east of razed hospital
Clarendon at Irving Park Road 1960ish
view west on Montrose Avenue east of razed hospital
an aerial view of the smoke stack to the right of the photo
with a view of the plants chimney
in the distance east of the hospital
The abandoned pumping station - view west 1970's below
Plans for the old station in 1971
Area for the Planned Development
The general scope of the planned development was a major concern to neighborhood associations & block clubs that had traffic concerns due to this massive project like this one.
the area with inserts
of the past and future
The New
'Lake View Station'
this development named after the original Water Works will be located across the street on the west side of Clarendon
the original planned development above
the last rendition below
Planned Development 2013
via the 46th Chicago Ward office
at the tennis courts
the last rendition below
Planned Development 2013
A mid 2018 view from Google Maps
the original Lake View Water Works was located at the tennis courts
Post Notes:
Historical Summary of theWater Works
page 1
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These posts are exclusively used for educational purposes. I do not wish to gain monetary profit from this blog nor should anyone else without permission for the original source - thanks!
