From Wikipedia:
Water cribs are offshore structures that collect water from close to the bottom of a lake to supply a pumping station onshore. The name crib is derived from the function of the structure—to surround and protect the intake shaft. Cities supplied with drinking water collected by water cribs include Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; and Buffalo, New York.
Cribs in Chicago, Illinois
The City of Chicago is supplied with drinking water from Lake Michigan. The first crib, the Two-Mile Crib was constructed as part of a scheme by Ellis S. Chesbrough in 1865. Water was collected and transported through a tunnel 60 feet below the lake surface to the Chicago Avenue pumping station. This was replaced by the Carter H. Harrison crib in 1900, which itself was intended to be replaced by the William E. Dever crib that was built alongside it in 1935. However increased water demand meant that the Carter H. Harrison crib continued in service until 1997.
Other cribs include the Wilson Avenue crib, the Four Mile Crib, and the 68th Street crib. The 68th Street crib was the site of a fire that killed 70 workmen on the morning of January 20, 1909. The tunnels leading from the cribs are close to 200 feet beneath the lake and vary in shape from circular to ovular and in diameter from 10 to 20 feet. Lake water enters the cribs and flows through these tunnels to pumps at the Jardine Water Purification Plant (the world's largest) and the South Water Purification Plant, where the water is then treated. From there it is pumped to all parts of the city as well as 118 suburbs.
Until the 1990s, Crib Tenders lived on the cribs. Usually four man crews stayed aboard the cribs for a week at a time. Their duties included water testing, light maintenance, and dynamiting ice dams that formed against the cribs' walls. Crib facilities included rudimentary bathrooms, showers, and bunk rooms—and a fantastic view of the city and lake.
The massive amount of polluted water that flows into the lake from Chicago is beginning to affect the water quality—even four miles off shore. The City of Chicago has proposed a plan involving the construction of new cribs twelve or fifteen miles farther north.
The Chicago cribs have also been designated a "security zone". In 2002 complete security systems were installed, including video, motion detectors, microwave link, and door sensors, all with direct links to Chicago Police monitoring stations. Any craft that enters the buoyed security zone is subject to boarding, ticketing and impounding.
Wilson Avenue Crib in 1957.
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2 comments:
Back in 1971 I was on my motorcycle and I picked up a hitchhiker who had a automobile break down near the lake. I took him to his boat at Montrose Harbor. He said he was going to the Wilson Av water Crib 2 miles out to deliver some stuff to the 4 crib tenders. For some reason I thought they were sailors. We entered the crib 2 miles out with no interference! And he just laid the supplies he brought onto the floor since all 4 guys were passed out! There were empty beer bottles (and a booze bottle) laying all over. It was a strange interesting place. It had several
very old large pendulum clocks ticking away along the wall, and radio equipment, along with much strange equipment. Aqua-lungs and wet-suits were strewn along the floor. I couldn't believe we got into the place without a guard.(The days before security?) Obviously there was a big party and we saw several bikinis on the floor. The fellow that delivered the stuff to the place was some type of friend or crib groupie! They were all blitzed and asleep, so we soon left without disturbing them at about 7am? An interesting early morning! I always wondered why they had such old antique clocks in that place? Mike Zeborowski
Wow Mike that was interesting, I always heard of wild times going on out there, Crib tenders was a much sought after "Patronage" job, Bridge Tenders was also. they opened and closed the bridges when the boats traveled the Chicago River.
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