This is a “REVISED” article that is intended to provide some interesting updated background information for my “Picture of the Day” series Article No. 41 that was posted on September 29, 2023.  As you will see it includes some new photographic images that just might be of interest to my readers. 

INTRODUCTION:  In the very early stages of development, the Risley brothers determined that steps must be taken to provide the “new” seashore community of Stone Harbor with an ample water supply.

THE STORY BEGINS:  In the Winter of 1908-09, an artesian waterworks system was built at Stone Harbor with a well that tunneled to a depth of 850 feet and accessed a geological water-bearing formation known as the Kirkwood Aquifer.  The location for the town’s first pumping station and accompanying standpipe commissioned in 1909 was at 96th Street and Second Avenue.  Stone Harbor’s original vertical standpipe stood 100 feet high, was just ten feet in diameter and contained 60,000 gallons of water.  Please keep in mind that the height of any water tower is to provide the pressure for the water supply system and in many cases it is supplemented with a pump. 

In essence, a water tower tank is constructed at a height sufficient to pressurize a distribution system for potable water and to provide emergency storage for fire protection.  Typically a pump (see 2nd photo above) is required to refill the tower on an ongoing basis. 

This account will provide numerous photographic images of Stone Harbor’s 3 water towers and related pump houses in a chronological sequence.  The first image presented at the outset is a rare ocean-facing view depicting the new Stone Harbor water works and also reveals a Pennsylvania Railroad train parked along Second Avenue.  In all probability the train was a working train because it appears to be carrying some freight or construction materials and as you can see, had a steam lifting crane for loading and unloading freight and had at least one attached passenger or personnel car.  In addition, the pump house in the foreground boldly displays 4 words in large white letters painted on the roof – “STONE HARBOR WATER Company”.  Festive patriotic bunting frames the pump house and is also affixed to the entire spiral staircase of the tower itself.  A huge American Flag is visible flapping in a strong wind at the top of the standpipe in this spectacular photo taken in 1910. 

Two more points of interest regarding the lead photo are noteworthy and focus on two of the houses visible in this image that are easily identifiable.  Just to the right of the steam locomotive is the house known as the “Rosery” located at 147 – 94th Street and built in 1910.  The other house is another well known cottage popularly referred to as the “Pebbles” at the corner of First Avenue and 94th Street.  Happily, both buildings have survived the test of time and are still standing today.  Each house has a rich history and both have been specifically featured in past articles of mine appearing on the Facebook/Meta platform as well the Stone Harbor Museum webpage.  

Here are 3 more related images including a photograph and 2 vintage post cards.  Please note the 4 workmen in the photo: 2 workers are standing at the base of the water tower, 1 is ascending and can be seen midway up on the stairs and 1 worker can be seen standing at the very top of the tower.  In addition, the pair of post cards show the Stone Harbor Water Works from two different vantage points and the captions on the cards indicate that fine artesian water was drawn from wells 850 feet below the ocean.

These next 3 images, including a photograph and 2 post cards, reveal Stone Harbor’s replacement or second water-pumping station built in 1924 that still stands today and represents the borough’s oldest remaining public building.  The Water Work’s distinctive Mediterranean style architecture and its classic tile roof made the pumping station a well-recognized, even iconic, Stone Harbor landmark.  Water was pumped from wells to an underground reservoir situated next to the water building where it is treated with chlorine and aerated along with constant monitoring and testing for purity and safety.

Sometime during the late 1930s the original standpipe proved insufficient and a replacement tower shown here on the left with a capacity of 150,000 gallons was approved and would be built in the early 1940s.  As you can see Stone Harbor’s second water tower had a very different silhouette and consisted of a large holding tank perched atop a four-legged structure with a large water pipe running from the ground up.  Until the original tower shown here on the right was dismantled and removed, the new, larger 1940s water tower and its 1909 predecessor stood side by side for several months.

The image just presented above was derived from an actual post card featuring the popular Hahn’s Restaurant and Bar on 96th Street in downtown Stone Harbor.  However, we are clearly the beneficiaries of good timing because when the photo was taken for this image, an added benefit was included that definitely ties in to the purpose of this particular article.  A second glance at the image is warranted.  What do you see when you look closely at the background on the left side of this image?  Do you see not one, but two water towers?  There they both are, captured coincidentally during that brief period of time when the two water towers were transitioning and were part of the landscape.  We are fortunate indeed for this very image as it was published on a post card like a time capsule preserving an interesting moment in Stone Harbor history.  Many viewers may not notice and overlook the fact that there are 2 water towers depicted.  Please know that this author has never seen any other images on post cards that depict both water towers from that period of time in the early 1940s.   

Sometime around 1960 the borough changed the paint color of the 1940s-era water tower from a darker blue-gray hue to a less dramatic and more subdued light green color.  Once more post cards help us know and learn more about the life and times in Stone Harbor.

These next two photo images picture very early views of the latest and current water tower version that was constructed in 1978.  Once more we see history in the making as Stone Harbor continued to develop in the second half of the 1900s and thus there was created a need for more water to serve the growing community.  Here we can see the new, third water tower in two different early phases of construction on the left while flanked on the right is the second tower version nearing the end of its life after some 37 years of serving the community.  The first of these two images is striking because this photo that appeared in the “Atlantic City Press” newspaper edition of October 11, 1977 shows Stone Harbor residents and others just how the new structure would dwarf the old tower.  Note the relative size of the worker dangling from the cable.  

The elevated single-column hydropillar design of this third version water tank stands 133 feet high and has a 500,000-gallon capacity.  As you can see this current version features a vertical fluted support column which is substantially different in size and basic appearance from its two predecessors.  We also know that presently there are four wells that supply water for Stone Harbor, which is then aerated and disinfected before being distributed through approximately 150,000 feet of pipe to more than 2,900 customers.

A final note about the aerial view above showing  downtown Stone Harbor – the astute and knowledgeable observer familiar with the town today may be able to discern and identify two very special and enduring houses in particular – the “Pebbles” and the “Rosery”, both situated on 94th Street.  Can you locate them?

As we prepare to wrap up this account about the water towers of Stone Harbor, mention needs to be made about how the third version would take on a totally new, albeit temporary, revolutionary appearance.  It happened in 2005 when the celebrated expressionist artist Peter Max was commissioned by the borough to create some very large eye-catching murals to be literally “exhibited” for all to see. 

The town’s prominent water tower was selected to be the canvas and focal point for several vibrant colorful murals created especially by Peter Max.  His works are distinctive to say the very least.  His art has been characterized as surrealist in nature, with his figures for example, soaring in and out of rainbows and skies.  Furthermore, Peter Max has over his lifetime embraced elements of Pop art, counterculture, Neo-Expressionist and even bold and mystifying psychedelic elements.

It was known that Peter Max was fascinated by the cosmos and you will see that reflected in his murals.  Max specialized in abstract and fantasy arts and he was known for painting complex patterns and alien worlds.

While the decision to showcase these specific works of Peter Max art was considered to be too modern or even controversial in some circles, there were others who believed it was high time for Stone Harbor to step up and be a bit more visible.  Perhaps if you were living or vacationing at Stone Harbor during the Summer of 2006, you may very well remember actually seeing the short-lived and interesting celebrated art work that adorned one of the town’s most conspicuous landmark structures. 

That being said and turning our attention to these 3 photographic images, a total of four very large vinyl murals were attached to the fluted portions of the main standing support column and were in full view during 2006.  Understandably, these colorful and unusual murals also made headlines and were covered in the local shore press.

QUESTION:  Might you personally have a particular opinion, either in favor of or opposed to the prominent display of these special Peter Max creations on the Stone Harbor water tower?  What say you?    

This image above is a photograph that this writer personally took when visiting Stone Harbor in the summer of 2023 and you can see that the original look has been restored and today there is no trace of the flamboyant art work that once encircled the water tower.

A SIDE NOTE:  Speaking of another area water tower serving as a canvas displaying other interesting artwork, we now turn our attention somewhat northward to a place called Margate along the South Jersey Shore.  Those of you who have ever been to the shore resort of Margate, New Jersey in recent years may know and have seen that town’s water tower located just across the street from the Margate City Police Department.  On that water tower is a large colorful illustration or likeness of an animal for all to see.  The oversized mural on that tower depicts “Lucy”, the renown and iconic “Elephant Hotel”.  Just a couple of blocks away and overlooking the ocean and the beach is the actual historic Lucy the Elephant Hotel herself still standing proudly in all her majesty after 142 years.

CONCLUSION:  For more than a century, Stone Harbor has kept pace with the ongoing need to provide its residents with dependable, safe drinking water.  Besides serving their intended practical use, we know that some of the water towers have also provided elevated platforms or prime vantage points that have yielded some excellent photographic images of the changing face of the downtown business district and other areas of the town over time.  We are especially indebted to and even owe gratitude to those bold and brave photographers who, with permission, ventured with their cameras to the top of the first two water towers to capture unusual close-up aerial views of Stone Harbor that most of us would never have the opportunity to ever see.

I do hope that you have enjoyed venturing back in time with me.  As always, THANK YOU for your time and attention to these written accounts about our favorite seashore resort – STONE HARBOR – “The Seashore At Its Best”!