Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library
The Virginia American Water Company Collection (MS103)
Virginia American Water Company
MS103
7 Linear Feet
15 Boxes
1866-1988
English
.
Content Description
The collection consists of financial records, such as account books from the 1800s; dividend payments; income tax returns from 1919-1928; company records and reports; an employee records book from the 1920s-1940; letters of correspondence; company histories; franchise map; and newsclippings from various newspapers in 1956-1957. Of particular interest are the 1867 property book and the book containing the "Copies of Deeds, Agreements, & Contracts" from 1853-1892. Both contain drawings and diagrams of where water pipes had been laid in Old Town.
Biographical / Historical
The Virginia American Water Company was originally founded in 1852 as the Alexandria Water Company. The idea for a supply of clean water can be attributed to Benjamin Hallowell, who after losing three children to disease, may have realized the importance of clean water. The Alexandria Water Company was chartered by the Virginia Legislature on March 22, 1850 and Hallowell served as its first President. The company expanded in the early 1900s and again in the 1950s. In 1972, the company merged with the Old Dominion Water Corporation and the Prince William Water Company to become the Virginia American Water Company.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in six series as follows:
Series I: Correspondence, 1866-1980
Series II: Company Records, 1859-1960
Series III: Financial Records, 1852-1929 and Annual Reports, 1851-1879
Series IV: Legal Documents, 1924-1948
Series V: Company History/Photographs and Miscellaneous Items
Series VI: Drawings and Sketches
Related Materials
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, Box 202; Alexandria City Records, Box 19MM, Box 19UU (Water and gas pipes, 1855); Boothe Family Papers, Box 164 (Annual Reports, 1851-1879); Box 195.
Erickson, Philip M., Cdr. Alexandria Water Company Permits: The First 1000 'Pipers.' Alexandria, VA: City of Alexandria Archaeology, 1988.
Hallowell, Benjamin. Autobiography of Benjamin Hallowell. Philadelphia: Friends Book Association, 1884.
Swain, Perry Carpenter. "Robert Hartshorne Miller, 1798-1874, A Quaker Presence in Alexandria." Graduate Thesis, George Washington University, 1988.
Preferred Citation
[Item identification], Virginia American Water Company Collection, MS103, Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections, Alexandria, Va.
Alexandria (Va.) -- Economic conditions
Alexandria (Va.) -- History
Municipal water supply -- Virginia -- Alexandria
Series I: Correspondence1866-1980Scope and ContentsThis series includes business letters, letters to employees, and other various correspondences pertaining to the early years of the Alexandria Water Company
Outgoing and incoming letters to the State Corporation Commission September 1919, December 1920, December 1922-January 192311Circular letter to Cameron Run Pump House employees1921-1212Worker compensation claim by Alan Cogan1919-1013Letter of complaint by Mrs. Kate N. Taylor1922-1114Letter regarding the company audit1922-1215Note for D.J. Howell.16Letters to and from War Department regarding soldiers bathing at Edsall Station1911-0617Pipe distribution in Rosemont (see also blueprint collection).18Letter to Chief Engineer from National Board of Fire Underwriters regarding cleaning of water mains (includes drawings)1917, 192219Letter regarding high water pressure1929-04110Letter regarding water main on Duncan Avenue1921-04111Letter to Fairfax County regarding Belle Haven Golf Club1927-04112Letters regarding assessment of American Water Company properties by Commonwealth of Virginia1929-06113Letters of Gardner L. Boothe, company attorney1948-10-1948-11114Copy of letter to Robert H. Miller taken from the Autobiography of Benjamin Hallowell1873-04115Alexandria Water Company Centennial Story1980116Miscellaneous letters and correspondence1920s117Correspondence book1866-18992Series II: Company Records1859-1860Scope and ContentsThis series contains various company records, such as personnel records, various reports and lists, all pertaining to the running of the water company.
Personnel records1920's-194031List of pipe laid1851-191732Rules, Regulations, and Rates1867 and November 191833Report of Holmes Run Storage Reservoir190434Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, Wheat v. City Council of Alexandria1982-0235Meter lists1928-0736Personal correspondence, possibly by Robert Miller186837Consumer premises data192038American Water Works Association, certificate of corporate membership190939American Water Works Association, resolution concerning effect of war conditions upon maintenance and management of water works1918-04310Report to Virginia Board of Health1923-11311Test by New York Water Board on mortar with sand312Statistical report on pumping stations1933313Inspection report1931314Agreement with stockholders1929-04315Meeting minutes1926316Minutes from annual meeting of stockholders and newly elected Board of Directors1927-11317Location of valves318Meter installation documents319Report to the Honorable J.M. Hill, city council320Report to stockholders1925-06321Proposed pipe extension1923-09322Drawings of properties to be plotted and properties completed1920s323Fire hydrants1920s324Advertising1933, 1964325Statement made by P.H. Dowdell at meeting of Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce1960326Materials pertaining to Fairfax County1967-1972327Property Book1867contains drawings of pipes laid4Existence and Location of Copiesphotocopy available in vertical file
Copies of Deeds, Agreements & Controls18535Existence and Location of Copiesphotocopy available in vertical file
Series III: Financial Records and Annual Reports1851-1929Scope and ContentsThis series contains documents such as income tax returns, account books, a dividend book, and other various financial documents as well as the annual reports from the President and Board of Directors to the stockholders.
Annual Information Return1921-192961Receipts1865-1902, 192662Income Tax Returns1919-192863Dividend Summary1855-02-1929-0164Appraisal Summary1906-1165Income Statement192366Income Statement192467Income Statement192568Income Statement192669Income Statement1927610Income Statement1928611Income Statement1929612Prepaid insurance1924, 1928613Flat rate delinquents1929-04614Taxes1928-01-1929-06615Tax reports to State Corporation Division1950s71List of dividend payments on stock of Domestic and Resident Corporation1923-192772Materials in transit192773Salaries, Inventory, Certificates and Canceled Certificates192974Miscellaneous financial documents1920s75Inventory of filtration plant1928-0776Annual Reports1851-187077Annual Reports1870-187978Account Book1850-186281Account Book (Abstract of Water Rents Received)1852-185582Account Book1862-186583Dividend Payment Book1855-188784Unused account book85Account Books1929-193791Series IV: Legal Documents1924-1948Scope and ContentsThis series contains copies of contracts, deeds, and other legal agreements involving the water company.
103G:1 Document granting Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company the right to construct and maintain lines1917-04101Agreement with Washington Railway Company1924102Contract towards development of "Wilmar" subdivision1924103Contract with St. Agnes School of Arlington1926104Contract for payment of meter rentals105Documents regarding Occoquan Company and Washington Railway and Electric Company1902, 1946-1947106Deed regarding purchase of Occoquan Company1948107Certificate of Amendment of Charter1948108Agreement with Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company1948109Deeds with Potomac Electric Power Company19481010Documents about dissolution of Occoquan Company19481011Materials regarding Virginia Water Company19481012Documents filed with State Corporation Commission regarding Virginia Water Company and Occoquan Company19481013Series V: Company History/Photographs and Miscellaneous ItemsScope and ContentsThis series contains two histories written about the Alexandria Water Company, as well as some photocopied photographs of various reservoirs and pump stations, and miscellaneous materials.
History of the Alexandria Water Company, 2 reports1959-1988111Photographs of St. Elmo's Reservoir, Cameron Run Station, and Taylor's Run1927-1944112Miscellaneous materials pertaining to City of Alexandria113News clippings1956-01-1956-12114News clippings1957-01-1957-12115Franchise map1966116Miscellaneous Company records and documents117Photos #1-5151Photos #6-11152Photos #12-13153Photos #14-26154Photos #27-31155Photos #32-45156Photos #46-48157Photos #49-64158Photos #65-70159Photos #71-791510Photos #80-1081511Photos #109-1611512file1513Series VI: Drawings and SketchesScope and ContentsThis series contains engineer's sketches and drawings of property and pipelines
Engineeer's sketches of streets, pipe layout, and equipment1920121Engineer's sketches122Engineer's sketches123Large drawings and blueprints; oversized documents13Virginia American Water Company - xerox of photographs found in photograph collection141Annual Report for Virginia Water Company1952142Depreciation of account files1920-12143Appraisal and depreciation of company plants1906-11144