Watertower repairs begin

Posted 11/14/13

A photo taken from the top of the Water Tower looking southwest, towards center city. (Photo by David Biddle) Work began approximately two weeks ago to repair damage to the old Water Tower structure …

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Watertower repairs begin

Posted

A photo taken from the top of the Water Tower looking southwest, towards center city. (Photo by David Biddle) A photo taken from the top of the Water Tower looking southwest, towards center city. (Photo by David Biddle)

Work began approximately two weeks ago to repair damage to the old Water Tower structure at Ardleigh Street and E. Southampton Avenue.

The work is being performed by Building Restoration of Rydal Park. On a recent visit to the structure, company vice president David Biddle was on-site and told the Local that the roof of the tower was being completely replaced.

“It had been hit by lightning,” Biddle said.

A new roof will hold the structure together and prevent rain from entering.

In an email, Biddle said the structure will receive further work:

“Four steel bands will be added to the exterior of the structure in order to stop any further cracking, and the existing cracks will be dug out and repointed.”

The company will also install new lights.

Biddle said the work is being done for the city's Recreation Division of the Department of Public Property. The city owns the tower, which is on part of the grounds of the Water Tower Recreation Center at Hartwell Lane and Winston Road.

Building Restoration Inc. has been working with the Recreation Division of Public Property for the restoration of the old water tower structure. The structure is roughly 75 feet tall and the walls are 8 feet thick at the bottom and 4 feet thick at the top.

The walls are made of a local stone commonly called Philadelphia Schist. There are cracks on each side of the structure in the area of the brick portals. Four steel bands will be added to the exterior of the structure in order to stop any further cracking and the existing cracks will be dug out and repointed. There will be a new lightning system installed on the structure.

Biddle said he believed all work on the site would be completed by Jan. 1, 2014.

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