POTTSGROVE MANOR
CLIENT
County of Montgomery

LOCATION
Norristown, Pennsylvania

STRUCTURE
Built in 1752 for John Potts, ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, the mansion was situated on a 1,000 acre plantation, which by 1762 included the town of "Pottsgrove." As a successful ironmaster and merchant, John Potts, was appointed Justice of the Peace and Judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. He was elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly from both Berks and Philadelphia Counties. Although only four acres of original property remain today, the sandstone mansion has been restored to recreate the lifestyle and times of the Potts family.

CHALLENGE
 In the front yard of the mansion, the historic well existing however the pump had been removed.  Large well stones and a pump house were retained but the pumping mechanism was missing.  In order for the pump to function a constant water source needed to be established since the historic well contained only a small amount of water.  A simple water supply system needed to be developed in order to recreate an operating well pump.

SCOPE OF SERVICE
  • Document the location of the existing well and design the installation of the well stones and pump house.
  • Research a series of valves that could be added to a domestic water line that would come from within the mansion itself.
SOLUTION
  • Provided construction documents for the well stone installation procedure and attachment methods for the well pump housing.
  • Provided specifications for a float-valve mechanism to be installed in a water container within the basement level of the mansion.
  • Provided excavation and site restoration specifications for the installation of the water line from the mansion to the historic well.
  • Provided construction documents for a shed roof and fence to surround the well pump.
HISTORIC STATUS
Pottsgrove Manor is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.