Digging Around: Archeology at the Fairmount Water Works, 1988-1998

Posted by on October 15, 2012

Digging Around: Archeology at the Fairmount Water Works, 1988-1998
Thursday, October 18, 2012, 5:30-7:00 PM
Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center

As part of the background research for the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, archaeological excavations took place between 1988-1998 in several locations within the complex.

Join us on Thursday, October 18 as we learn about what lay buried beneath the floors!  Joel Fry, Curator at Bartram’s Garden, will be our guide for this journey. Joel is an archaeologist with a B.A. and M.A. in anthropology and archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania. He conducts research and lectures on botanical history and development as it relates to the Bartrams and their Garden. He worked for the Philadelphia Water Department on the development of the FWWIC.

Archaeological work investigated the Pump Well of the 1851 Jonval Turbine; along the river wall in the Engine House Pump Room; in the Engine House basement; and the flume and wheel pit of Water Wheel #1.

During the rehabilitation of the Engine House in 1998, historic features exposed during the construction were recorded and artifacts salvaged. This talk will survey some of the discoveries made during this research and illustrate details of the pumping technology preserved at the Fairmount Water Works.

Reservations are REQUIRED for this event! Please RSVP by October 16. To reserve or more information, please call 215-685-0723

Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
640 Water Works Drive
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19130