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Hackensack Water Company Complex
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Red tower
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| Location: | 4100 Park Avenue, Weehawken, New Jersey |
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| Area: | 7.7 acres (3.1 ha) |
| Built: | 1883 |
| Architect: | Withers,Frederick C. |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 80002491[1] |
| NJRHP #: | 1510[2] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | January 3, 1980 |
| Designated NJRHP: | August 24, 1979 |
The Hackensack Water Company developed water supply and storage in northeastern New Jersey during the latter part of 19th and the 20th century, initially to provide service to the towns of North Hudson, and the cities of Hoboken and Hackensack. Originally it's headquarters and major facilities were located in Weehawken.
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The headquarters most distinguishing feature, the red brick Weehawken Water Tower, was built in 1883. Designed by Frederick Clarke Withers, it was modeled after the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. The tower was capable of holding 165,000 gallons of water and stands 175 feet high, 300 feet above sea level at the Hudson River.[3]
The tower was connected to a Reservoir No.1 atop the Hudson Palisades to which water was pumped from the Hackensack River,[4] approximately 14 miles away. While the reservoir at the site could provide adequate pressure for water users in Hoboken, located just above sea level, water pressure was inadequate for customers atop the Palisades.[5]
The tower was designed to accomplish two separate purposes in one structure. The tower housed the local headquarters of the Hackensack Water Company, and allowed clean water to be stored in a tank at the top of the structure, stored under pressure for use by residents, businesses and for fighting fires. The opening of the facility on September 29, 1883 was a major event, with Withers recognized by professional journals for the innovation of his design.[5] The "Red Tower" is listed on the Federal Maritime Chart as a landmark for ships heading south on the Hudson River to let them know that they are approaching New York Harbor.[3]
The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[6] Entin Associates, a real-estate developer, purchased the complexin 1981 for $1.6 million. The gatehouse and reservoir were razed for the construction of a supermarket and parking. The tower was spared demolition and structurally maintained..[7]
The township of Weehawken took over the property in 2000, and began a restoration project for Water Tower Park. Paragon Restoration Corporation completed eight months of restoration on the site's exteriors in September 2004, with slate replaced on the roof, stonework fixed at the base and windows replaced. New steel supports and wood floors were installed in the interior, and space was left to accommodate an elevator and fire staircase.[3] In October 2005, a plaza park was created at the base of the tower.[8] Restoration of the interior of the tower has begun. In 2010, as part of the town's 150th anniversary, interior brickwork was cleaned while maintaining its historical appearance.[9]
Hackensack Reservoir No. 2 was another component of the water company's system in the township, later owned by its successor, United Water. The site, slighty more than 14 acres and the largest piece of undeveloped propertry in in North Hudson, is located in Weehawken Heights and is bounded by Highpoint Avenue, Gregory Avenue, 20th Street, and Palisade Avenue, the latter two of which create the border with neighboring Union City. It was built during a period of extensive urbanization of the area in the late 19th century.[10]
The historical marker reads:
Construction of the Hackensack Water Company's Reservoir No. 2 at the southern end of the township began circa 1893 to serve the Heights section of Weehawken, surrounding Union City and West Hoboken. The reservoir, excavated on glacial trap rock, came on line in 1896 with capacity of 69 million gallons. The company also installed a covered water tank in 1893 in what is now Gregory Park.
United Water announced that it wanted to divest most of the property in early 2011. The unofficial price is $11.5 million. The company will retain 4.2 acres to build a underground water storage tank to improve water pressure, estimated to cost $25 to $30 million.[11] The Trust for Public Land, which appraised the site, arranged to postpone the sale of the reservoir until the end of the year.
The township has begun a process purchase the grounds. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has given the township a $2 million grant in Green Acres funding. A $9 million low interest loan from the department's infrastructure trust program will be made with the intention that in the coming years, as funding permits, additonal grant for re-payment would be made.[12] No interest has to be paid on three-quarters of the money and mininal interest on the other one-quarter. The township has introduced a bond for $9.2 million.[13][14][15] Weehawken and Union City are initially investing $300,000 to transform the gounds into passive recreational space.[16] They will share the annual upkeep of the property.[17]
The completed sale was announced on December 2011.[18][19]
While not originally part of the Hackensack Water Company infrastructure, another reservoir atop the Hudson Palisades is Jersey City Reservoir #3, Also developed at the end of the 19th century in Jersey City Heights. Jersey City has preserved the open reservoir for the public use.as wild life management area adjacenet to Perhsing Field. Nearby Reservoir #4 was located on either side of Summit Avenue, and has since been demolished.