Notes From the Old Noank Jail:
Posted by Interactive Desk on Jan 22 2009, 10:51 AM
http://zip06.theday.com/blogs/groton_times/archive/2009/01/22/notes-from-the-old-noank-jail-deactivated-but-not-forgotten.aspx
Recently, there was a flurry of attention regarding “The Corey,” an old, black fire hydrant on Main Street near Carson’s Store in Noank. It seems there was some recent confusion as to whether the device is still active. We are grateful to local historian Steve Jones, researcher Hansina Wright, retired Fire Chief Richard Latham, Water Superintendent Russell Fowler, and Fire Police Captain Frank Lewis for helping to clarify some historic details.
After the start of World War I, circa 1914 to 1918, C.W. Morse of the Noank Shipyard proceeded, at his own cost of $50,000, to install “The Corey” hydrant system. It appears his primary motive was to help protect his property from any fire damage during an intense period of wartime shipbuilding activity. The hydrants were considered to be state of the art at that time, designed by William W. Corey of St. Louis, Mo., with components patented in 1912 and manufactured by Rensselaer Valve Mfg. Co. in Troy, N.Y.
The system consisted of a small, wooden water storage tower to provide extra hydrant pressure, mounted above and supplied by a large 20- by 20-foot well, both installed near the end of Cedar Street and connected by underground pipes to three hydrants. One of these was on Main Street, one on Pearl Street (now partially concealed by a white fence), and one at the Noank Shipyard (which has since been removed). This rudimentary system remained through 1962 and supplemented the more common firefighting method of drafting water from the sea. The Noank Fire Department still owns a 1939 Seagrave pumper fire engine that was used during that period and much later.
Starting in 1942 and through 1961, water supply studies were conducted, because the population growth was exceeding local residential well capacity, state highway rebuilding projects were now in process, and local firefighting capability was still limited. Additionally, most of the wells were becoming polluted by the more powerful detergents traveling in the ground water. At one point, a desalinization (pilot) plant was even being considered to act as a local water supply system from the sea itself.
Finally, early in 1962, a new water supply design by Metcalf and Eddy was accepted, and the entire new system was completed by December 1962 at a cost of $463,890. A large new water tower off Brook Street was immediately added at a cost of $17,400 in January 1963, supplied by a portion of the Groton Town water system. Other improvements and additions came later.
The old Corey hydrant system was deactivated by 1963, with some components already in poor condition. The well was filled in by a local resident, and the old wooden water tower was dismantled by boat builder George Maynard, who used it as firewood to warm his shop, where he built the sloop Scudupon which he and his family circumnavigated the globe.
The two existing Corey hydrants are all that remain aboveground from the old system, but they never have been marked accordingly as being totally inactive. This resulted in the hydrant outside Carson’s causing excitement for a few days recently when some long-time locals, as had been their habit for decades, parked their cars in front of the store for a few minutes, and then found traffic tickets sitting on their windshields...for parking in front of a fire hydrant!
It seems that Connecticut General Statute 14-251 does not allow parking “within 10 feet of any fire hydrant.” Nevertheless, a phone call to the Groton Police by Superintendent Fowler resolved the issue, at least temporarily. We understand that the parking tickets have been quashed, although we agree with Steve Jones that perhaps they should be retained for historic purposes! And in fairness to the newer patrol officers who are probably still trying to figure out how things really operate in Noank, it might be appropriate to mark both of the remaining Corey hydrants with permanent display labels indicating that they are “historic artifacts” and not active hydrants.
Otherwise, we suggest that parking meters be installed next to these old hydrants, which should guarantee that no one will ever park there.
By Ed Johnson
Special to the Times