Location of Faire Mount was a old reservoir indicating the Art Museum rather than Lemon Hill.

In the late 1700s, yellow fever epidemics — then thought by some to be a water-borne disease — compelled civic leaders to name a Watering Committee (forebear of the Philadelphia Water Department) to assure a constant supply of uncontaminated drinking water.

Committee members eventually chose Frederick Graff to build a waterworks on the eastern bank of the Schuylkill. Graff's initial use of steam engines to lift water from the river eventually gave way to waterwheels in July 1822. Powered by the river, pumps raised water into reservoirs high atop a nearby hill, Faire Mount. By 1872, even more efficient water-driven Jonval turbines replaced the waterwheels.

http://www.fairmountwaterworks.org/about.php?sec=3



How Fairmount got its name.

One of the world's largest municipal parks, it was devised in 1682 by the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn. As he was navigating the Schuylkill River, Penn noticed a grand bluff and exclaimed, "What a faire mount!" (Klein). The natural park-like setting, and the proximity to colonial Philadelphia, created a unique atmosphere for the fair.

http://www.lib.umd.edu/ARCH/honr219f/1876phil.html



Speaking of the Art Museum and water, please be aware of a special “World Water Day” programs taking place at the Waterworks Interpretive Center on March 20, 22 and 24

“People around the world will observe March 22 as World Water Day. The theme this year is “Coping with Water Scarcity.” Join us at The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center as we take a close look at water scarcity and the impact of global warming on the world’s fresh water supply.”

http://view.exacttarget.com/?ffcb10-fe6815707164067a7612-fdea17707c6d017877137773-fef91670766c0d

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