History of the Fredonia Water Works is interesting. It began in 1884 by the village of Fredonia acquiring lands and rights of way.

The Map of the Fredonia Water Works Conduit Line and Location of the Reservoir is included as part of this article. Note the 7-foot high dam shown on the right side or southerly portion of the Map. Also note the 12 inch water conduit running from the reservoir down Water Street to the Village.

The Map of the Fredonia Water Works was filed in the Chautauqua County Clerk’s Office December 29, 1883.

The original 1884 Fredonia Water Works was updated and reconstructed in 1936 during the Roosevelt administration as a WPA Project. WPA stands for “Work Progress Administration”. The project was part of a national effort to get the economy moving again during the great depression and Fredonia was part of that effort. Many Fredonian-Pomfret residents worked constructing the present water plant in 1934-1936.

Two of the grants of real estate for the Fredonia Water Works 141 years ago were conveyed by two deeds in 1884 from Hamilton Clothier and his wife, Elizzabeth to the Village of Fredonia. There were others.

The following recitals are at the end of the conveyances from the 1884 Clothier deeds to the Village:

“This conveyance hereby grants to said Village of Fredonia the right to take all of the water from the Canadaway Creek and its tributary streams of water which is required or that may at any time be required by said Village for the use of the Water Works now at the date hereof for purpose of construction or for the use of any Water Works which may, at any time be constructed for use of said Village and for the use of all the customers and consumers of water from the Water Works owned by said Village perpetually.”

County Map records show the Village presently owns approximately 351 acres of land in the area of the reservoir and 43 acres of land on Upper Cassadaga Lake which was called Glasgow Park.

Sam Drayo Jr. is a Fredonia resident.