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“Wow, has it really been 12 years!”
For Louisville Water Archive Specialist Jay Ferguson, it doesn’t seem that long ago that he was digging for treasures and pieces of history to fill the WaterWorks Museum.
“My work was pretty much behind the scenes finding more detailed information on the company and working on finding photographs and objects to be displayed in the museum. I got to go into hard-to-find storage areas at Crescent Hill and B.E. Payne [water treatment plants] and I went up to the coop in the boiler house at Zorn [Avenue],” Ferguson said referring to the original property where Louisville Water began operations in 1860.
He was pleased with the genuine interest among employees during his quest to find memorabilia.
“A hydrant crew even pulled one of the oldest fire hydrants still in service, for the museum. I knew then that the museum was getting support from all over the company. The hydrant is still proudly displayed,” Ferguson said, adding, “Another crew also worked on building a railing from different types of pipes, valves, and meters. To see the group effort by many others come together for WaterWorks was extremely satisfying knowing that I had a small part of its success.”
Ferguson was there when they cut the ribbon with a group of students from St. Francis School to usher in the museum. One day later on March 1, 2014, the WaterWorks Museum officially opened to the community.
Since then, tens of thousands of people have visited Louisville Water Tower to admire the Tower up-close, view old photographs and artifacts, and learn about our history, the water treatment process, and all the people who helped shape Louisville Water into one of the leading drinking water utilities in the nation.
“For more than a century and a half, we’ve shared this space through tours and storytelling, and for the last 12 years, as the WaterWorks Museum. That tradition continues today as a place where visitors can learn about Louisville Water’s important role in our community: past, present, and future. I’m proud to be even a small drop in the Louisville Water bucket, helping share this story with our community,” shared Megan Jones, the supervisor of museum operations.
You’re invited to learn the story of your drinking water at Louisville Water Tower. We are open on the second Sunday of every month with tours beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Save the date on April 12 for our FREE community open house! While tours are not available on this day, guests can wander through WaterWorks, learn how we’re focused on sustainability, and meet some of our fellow community partners committed to creating a cleaner environment.
