AREA HISTORY:  Water Company, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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THE YORK WATER COMPANY – Page 572

A move was made by enterprising citizens of York during the year 1815 to supply the borough of 
York with water.  By act of assembly, George Spangler, William Nes, John Barnitz, George Small, 
C. F. Fisher, Abraham Gartman and Jacob Smyser were appointed commissioners to receive 
subscriptions to stock.  No member was originally allowed to take more than four shares; $3 on 
each share were to be paid at the time of subscription.  A board of nine managers was elected 
at a meeting held in the court house on Monday, the 18th of March, 1816; as follows:  John 
Barnitz, George Spangler, Martin Danner, Abraham Gartman, John Demuth, Peter Small, Christian 
Lanius, George Small, and David Cassat.  Contracts for 16,000 feet of trunks or logs, with a 
bore of four inches, were made at the public house of George Hay, March 19, 1816.  David Cassat 
was first president; John Barnitz, secretary, and George Haller, treasurer.  The same company 
with many changes in management, still supplies the town with water.  Within the past few years 
noted improvements have been made, and the source of supply changed from the original place.  
At present there are about 3,500 consumers in the town.  The engine and water works to obtain 
supplies from the Codorus were built in 1850; the present reservoir on South Queen Street was 
constructed in 1852.