LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - JULY 25, 2021 by Lynne Belluscio While doing the research on the Lent/ Klinkbeil pump house, part of the story begins with the first settlers that arrived in LeRoy. Because, as the settlers arrived and began building log cabins, it was critical to find good water. The livestock could drink from the small streams, or perhaps a spring, but usually a well had to be dug. These early wells were dug by hand, with a person digging, deeper and deeper, until water was struck. As the well was dug, buckets of dirt and stones had to be hoisted to the surface and removed. Hopefully water would be found at 12 or 15 feet. This was not a job for the timid. Imagine being in a six-foot wide hole, 15 feet in the ground, and hoping that the walls would not collapse. After a good flow of water was discovered, the well was lined with stone so it wouldn’t collapse. Nathaniel Watson, a farmer in nearby Stafford in 1817 recorded in his diary the progress he was making with his well. After hitting rock, he decided to “blow the well” with some black powder and it took three attempts to get a flow of water. Once the well was lined, one had to decide how to bring the water to the surface. One of the earliest and easiest ways was to build a sweep. A long pole was placed in an upright tree crotch so it could swing freely. It worked like a fulcrum. A long rope was tied to one end and attached to a well bucket. The bucket could be lowered into the well, and the heavy end of the sweep would bring the water bucket to the surface. Well buckets were special. They had a hole in the bottom, so they would fill with water easily and not float. A hinged flapper of wood would close as the bucket was hauled to the top. There are two well sweeps at Genesee Country Museum. One is in front of Thompson Trading Post and the other is by the Hetchler log Cabin. It was important to build a structure around the well to keep animals and people from falling into the wells. They were usually built of wood. Stories of kids and pets falling into the well are quite common. A friend who knew of an old well was dismayed to look in and see a kitten clinging to the sides. Not inclined himself to climb into the well, his wife quickly lowered herself into the dark hole, and rescued the little kitten. Many times, the windlass which had been used to help clear the well when it was being dug, was later used to haul water buckets to the surface. These well houses were often covered with a roof and an overhang to give protection in all kinds of weather. Don’t forget, water was needed in all seasons, winter and summer. Obviously, a water pump would expedite bringing water to the surface. The wooden water pump had been around for many years, and in many towns there were pump makers, who could bore a large hole through the center of a log, and fit it with a leather gasket that would allow the plunger to bring water to the surface when the handle was pumped. These wooden pumps were attached to several wooden pipes that extended into the well, reaching the water. In nearby Seneca Falls, the Gould Pump Company introduced an iron banded wooden pump that became popular, until in 1849 they introduced the first cast iron water pump. The Lent/Klinbeil well had an iron Gould pump – the type that would have been mounted next to a kitchen sink. It is most probable that this was not the original pump. The Klinbeil family wanted to keep the pump as a memento, so the Historical Society sought a standing Gould pump and Martha Tabone donated the one in her garden, that originally was mounted on the well at her house. Pete McQuillen at the Finishing Line donated his time to clean and paint the pump, and it will be installed in the pumphouse. In the winter, it was important to leave the pump handle up, so that if it froze, it could still be used. It was not uncommon to have to pour boiling water into the top of the pump to thaw the pump out. In the past, perhaps one of the more disconcerting issues was well contamination. Not only did people draw water from their wells, but they often threw slop water at the base of the well. Although it seems obvious today, it was important to keep the well a far distance from the outhouse. Sometimes dead animals contaminated a well, so it was important to keep it covered. The Lent/Klinbeil well, was covered with two huge limestone slabs with a small hole to allow the pump pipe to extend into the well. On top of these slabs were two carved limestone pieces, that formed a basin to drain excess water away from the well. The basin drained into a small carved stone off the edge of the slabs. All these stones were removed by Ron Conniber. The two large slabs will be put in storage for a while. The three stones will be reinstalled inside the pumphouse with the help of Derrick Monument. Well, Well, Well Well Sweep at Pioneer House, Genesee Country Museum Well House at Livingston-Backus House, Genesee Country Museum