City of Racine history

In 1842 Jerome Increase Case began a threshing machine works in Racine, and today CNH (formerly J.I. Case) is known worldwide for its quality agricultural and construction equipment.

The J. I. Case Plow Threshing Machine Works was established in 1844.

Across the street is the Italianate style Masonic Temple, built circa 1856.

The Racine Public Library has many Racine City Directories that date back as far as 1858.

A large elevator was built in 1867 to load the ships with wheat that was brought to Racine and stored in dozens of grain warehouses.

Deep artesian wells were drilled in 1875 and water mains were laid in the streets with service to individual homes.

In 1884 the first ship entered the newly built harbor.

In 1886 S.C. Johnson began a parquet flooring manufacturing operation, which diversified over the years and is now one of the city's largest employers.

1887 Lake Michigan water pumped into the distribution system via a 24 inch cast iron intake pipe 7,559 feet long.

That same year, a standpipe had been planned, and by February 1888 was erected 200 feet above lake level between 9th and 10th Streets.

By July 1889, the intake pipe was completed, over 300 fire hydrants were in service, fresh water was being used to flush the city sewer lines, and the dusty streets were being sprinkled daily.

In the very dry summer of 1900, the Water Works was credited for civic beautification evidenced by the colorful display of flowers throughout the city.

In 1904, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities endorsed legislation that would allow such municipal ownership of water works.

In 1907, Mayor Horlick appointed a committee to review the condition and value of the Water Works which now consisted of 62 miles of mains, 557 hydrants, a 12.5 million gallons per day (mgd) pumping station, a 330,000 gallon standpipe, and the 7,000 foot intake.

Milwaukee, in 1909, had an epidemic of intestinal disease and its water was found to be impure.

In 1910, inspection found the system water pressure and fire protection capability to be in excellent condition.

On August 26, 1911, calcium hypochlorite, a chlorine producing compound was first added to the raw lake water to eliminate pathogenic bacteria.

In 1913, the National Board of Fire Underwriters gave a mixed review to the mayor on the 71 miles of distribution system, but found more compliments for the Water Works than they found for the city as a whole.

Early in 1914 the Health Department had started daily testing of the drinking water, and water quality was well documented.

In 1916, many water works ran low on hypochorite and threat of a typhoid fever epidemic was feared.

Mayor Theisen, in 1917, made the final bid to purchase the Water Works for the city, now with a population of 47,000 people.

On May 1, 1919, under Mayor Armstrong, the purchase was completed for $1,225,000.

By 1921 the plant could pump 36 mgd, the system had 107 miles of water mains, 957 hydrants and 22 full time employees.

In June of 1922, Mayor Lunt and the city fathers paid their first official visit to the Water Works.

Industry, in 1924, made many major requests for more and larger water mains.

Water treatment improved with the purchase of the Hubbard Street site and the completion in June 1925 of the first 2 million gallon coagulation basin.

In November 1926, three months before the opening of the new filtration plant, Superintendent McElroy, after 16 years of service, died of a heart attack.

Under laboratory control, the modern treatment plant began producing chemically flocculated, settled, and filtered water on February 27, 1927.

In 1928, a 2-1/3 million gallon storage reservoir was built, giving Racine one of the first modern water treatment plants in the world.

In August of 1930, anhydrous ammonia was injected into the water to prevent the formation of tastes from trace amounts of phenols and coal tar derivatives from the nearby gas-coke producing plant.

Founded in 1932, the Racine Symphony Orchestra is the only orchestra in the state to perform year-round.

1933 The modern electrical pump station built at Hubbard Street and Michigan Boulevard.

1935 Powdered activated carbon first used for taste and odor control.

1936 The filtration plant enlarged to 20 million gallons per day capacity.

Built in 1938 by Frank Lloyd Wright as a private residence, Wingspread, a National Historic Landmark, is a private international conference facility operated by the Johnson Foundation.

O&H Danish Bakery, founded in 1949, makes them daily using all-natural ingredients.

1950 Sodium Silica-fluoride fed for first time for prevention of tooth decay.

Doctor Eugene McCarthy, chemist, pioneered and developed water treatment practices in Lake Michigan water until the time of his death in 1954.

In 1956, the Board of Water Commissioners sold $3,500,000 of revenue bonds and initiated an extensive enlargement program consisting of a high 150,000 gallon elevated storage tank and two booster pumps to serve the high pressure area on the west side of the city.

1957-58 The filtration plant enlarged to 40 million gallon per day capacity.

By 1960, full water treatment in the enlarged physical facility included ammoniation, chlorination, alumflocculation, settling, activated carbon treatment for odors, lime treatment to control rusting properties of the water, and fluoridation under the supervision of the city health officer.

Search America’s historic newspaper pages from 1777-1963 or use the United States Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present.

1966 Dual media filtration began with introduction of anthracite “capped” filters.

1967 Potassium permanganate introduced for taste and odor control.

In 1970, a new 54 inch diameter intake pipe 4,500 feet in length was entrenched into Lake Michigan increasing the intake capacity from 35 to 110 million gallons per day.

In 1971 the University of Wisconsin-Parkside was founded in a rural setting between Racine and the nearby city of Kenosha.

1975 Cationic organic polymer introduced to treatment regimen to enhance clarification.

A backwash retention basin was constructed and a sludge pumping system installed in 1977 to comply with federal discharge requirements.

A major improvement program began in 1978 which included a 2-1/2 mile installation of a 48 inch and 36 inch diameter water main from the plant towards the southwest side of the city.

1979 New bank of electrical switchgear, 3 new transformers, one 25 mgd high lift, and one 25 mgd low lift pump installed in the main pump station on Hubbard Street.

1980 2.3 miles of new 36 inch and 48 inch diameter water transmission mains placed in service.

In 1981, the addition of another 2-1/2 miles of 30 inch distribution main and a mile of 24 inch ductile iron water main improved both the capacity and pressures in the distribution system.

1985 Chlorination treatment practice modified to reduce trihalomethane formation.

The Racine Choral Arts Society, founded in 1987, performs a varied repertoire ranging from medieval chant to African American gospel.

United States rank in 1990: 248th (State rank: 4th)

1993 Phosphates first fed to finished water to prevent corrosion in distribution system.

1995 Potassium permanganate feed lines extended to intake cones and conversion of emergency low lift pump station to new chemical feed station completed.

1996-97 Basins 1 and 2 demolished and rebuilt for pretreatment project.

2000-02 Low Lift Project completed to provide a firm source water pumping capacity of 60 MGD. Electric motors relocated above grade to provide protection from potential flooding.

2004-05 The new Membrane Plant provides ultra-filtration to remove all microorganisms and particulates in the finished water producing water of the highest quality to meet current and future regulations.

2005 Construction completed on the Highway 20 booster pump station.

2006 Construction completed on the Newman Road booster pump station and ground reservoir.

2007 The Racine Water Utility purchases the former Sturtevant Water Utility including the Distribution system, Rayne Road booster pump station, Broadway elevated tank, and the Renaissance elevated tank.

2008 Operational changes initiated to reduce basin solids disposal costs, decreased back- washing costs, and improved membrane plant performance.

2009 Phosphate inhibitor formulation changed to further lessen corrosion rates in the distribution system and reduce first-draw water lead and copper concentrations.

2011 The Racine Waterworks marks its 125th year anniversary.

2013 Installation of new backwash motors and Variable Frequency Drives.