HomeMy WebLinkAbout1908 - Wooden Pipes Carried Water for Decades in TukwilaWooden pipes carried
water for decades in city
BY PAT BRODIN
TUKWILA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Abundant underground springs along
the west hill of the Green River Valley
supplied water to dairy farms along the
Green-Duwamish River corridor. In the
late 1800s, water -conveyance systems con-
structed of wood stave pipe proved to be
an efficient means of supply transmission
by means of gravity. Wood piping systems
provided water for both crops and live-
stock to Valley farmers.
Wood stave pipe is nothing short of arti-
san craftsmanship. Similar to fine wine bar-
rels, wood staves are bevel cut and formed
into a circle bound by steel. In the early
days, coopers or barrel makers were em-
ployed for their expertise in this process.
High tensile steel was spiraled around the
wood pipe and connected with a malleable
iron pipe shoe. The inner surface of the
shoe is precisely contoured to fit the outer
surface of the pipe designed with sufficient
bearing to prevent crushing of the wood
fiber. For local water sys-
tems, Pacific Northwest
Douglas fir was the wood
of choice; long, straight
grained, resilient, strong,
and highly water resis-
tant. It was generally coat-
ed in bitumen and rolled
in clean sand to protect
against decay. The wood
would then be filled with
water to "proof" it, mean-
ing that within a few days
the wood would swell and
create watertight seams
ready for highly pressur-
ized flow volumes.
A few notable water systems supplied
drinking water for people as well as cattle
to areas in Tukwila and the Green River
Valley. The Independent Water Co. estab-
lished in 1908 and assumed by the City of
Tukwila in 1978 was originally founded
and maintained by James Nelsen. Wood
www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » AUGUST 2014 ) 13
stave pipe was gravity fed
from the present location
of Crystal Springs Park to
the area around West Valley
Highway south of Interstate
405. James' brother, Her-
man Nelsen, was the director
of the Orillia Water Supply
Co which served the Oril-
lia community farms. The
O'Connell farms on Frager
Road in the O'Brien area
were supplied with water via
a century old wooden pipe. It
was replaced by newer plastic
pipe just a few years ago.
Pat Brodin is a member o f the Tukwila
Historical Society. The historical society op-
erates the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural
Center; 14475 59th Ave. S. The center can
be reached by phone at 206-244-HIST or
via email at tukwilaheritagectr@tukwilahis-
tory.org. Its next meeting is at 7 p.m. Aug. 21
at the museum fora report on society plans.
This wood stave pipe
remnant was excavated in
1992 during the off -ramp
construction at Interurban
Avenue South. Tukwila
Historical Society