Well Well Well (1891)

Welcome back, Monroe history lovers. This week’s history takes us back to Monroe Center to the east side of the green. The inspiration this week comes from a tiny newspaper article published in the Newtown Bee. Sometimes, it’s just that simple. The local small-town news catches my eye, and the next thing I know, I’m up to my eyeballs in research and planning our next article. It’s very satisfying when I finally make the decision on our next historical spotlight subject. So, are you ready? Let’s go!

Our first supporting image is a snippet from the newspaper article which was published on December 11th, 1891. It is here that we learn that a recent winter storm has leveled the flag pole in the Center park. What we refer to today as “The Green” was referred to for generations as “The Park”, and it’s just the same for our green in Upper Stepney village. We also learn in the article that the flag pole wasn’t the only casualty of the storm. Marshall Beach’s well sweep was blown down as well. Tragedy!

The address of Marshall Beach’s house today is 172 Old Tannery Road. It’s right across the street from St. Peter’s Grace Episcopal Church. You know, the big, beautiful house on the corner. Now that you know where his house is, there’s still one major question to be answered, and that is this. What the heck is a well sweep? Well, for those of our readership out there who may not know what a well sweep is, not to worry. After today, you certainly will, and it’s a great subject to bring up at social events, especially if you want people to avoid you!

Our second supporting image is a classic example of a well sweep. My goodness, what an odd-looking contraption that is, eh? Yet, as odd as it looks, it’s a perfect example of “form follows function.” Originally used as a means to irrigate crops, a well sweep is an ancient simple machine that is claimed to have originated in Mesopotamia. It is one of the simplest means of raising water from a well. I know what you’re thinking. What about the traditional wishing well with the little roof and the handle to crank the rope and bucket straight up from the water? Yes, of course, that’s one historical example, but you’ll work much harder to raise a bucket full of water by that method. Let me explain.

A well sweep is like a big seesaw. It’s designed so that one end of its beam is deliberately heavier than the other. A bucket is suspended from the lighter end of the beam and when you pull the bucket down into the well, the heavy end of the beam rises. After the bucket fills with water, the heavier end of the beam assists in lifting the bucket back up from the well. Typically, the beam’s heavy end is weighted so that the beam balances level when the bucket is half full. Some effort is required to lower the empty bucket down into the well, and again to raise it back up when it’s full, but the counterbalanced machine significantly reduces the labor. Remember the old saying, “Work smarter, not harder.”

According to the town of Monroe’s assessor’s records, Marshall Beach’s house was built in 1785 and a well would certainly have been dug when the house was first built. It’s very likely that the well sweep was original to the house and served it for just over a century when it perished in the storm in 1891. Surely, Marshall replaced it with another. Actually, that’s not very likely. By the 1890s, cast iron hand-cranked well pumps, mounted atop the well, had become very popular. I would think by that date Marshall Beach made the smart decision to update to a modern cast iron well pump.

Our third supporting image is a recent aerial view of the property. Relax your eyes and follow the shadow of the large evergreen just behind the house. Right near the shadow’s tip is what appears to be the remains of the original well. It looks as though it’s been filled in and used today as a flower bed. If that is the former well, we now know of the well sweep that once stood beside it. Yet another perfect example of our past is always present.

I hope you enjoy this week’s historical spotlight on the history of Marshall Beach’s well and the well sweep that once served it. I can assure you, in the days of old, such contraptions were commonplace on Monroe’s farms. I’ve included an Internet link below to a working re-creation of a well sweep in Burlington, MA. I think you’ll like it. Please share this post with your family and friends, or anyone who thirsts for historical knowledge, and thank you for your continued support and interest in Monroe’s rich history. Until next time. All’s well that ends well.

Regards,

Kevin Daly
Historian, Monroe Historical Society
www.monroecthistory.org
Our Past is Always Present