San Francisco water . oratorical para-graphs informed Dr. Leonard that he hadstumbled upon what was, perhaps, the soleremaining record of an enterprise known tomany San Franciscans in the gay ninetiesas Nobby Clarkes Water Works. For thededication was signed by Alfred Clarke. Ithad been penned on Decoration Day, 1891. Alfred Clarke, known familiarly asNobby, was a man of some means whoowned property on the eastern slope of TwinPeaks. He built his home, in the awful archi-tecture of the nineties, at Douglass Streetand Casselli Avenue. He built a Twin Peakswater-works system after a quarrel with
San Francisco water . oratorical para-graphs informed Dr. Leonard that he hadstumbled upon what was, perhaps, the soleremaining record of an enterprise known tomany San Franciscans in the gay ninetiesas Nobby Clarkes Water Works. For thededication was signed by Alfred Clarke. Ithad been penned on Decoration Day, 1891. Alfred Clarke, known familiarly asNobby, was a man of some means whoowned property on the eastern slope of TwinPeaks. He built his home, in the awful archi-tecture of the nineties, at Douglass Streetand Casselli Avenue. He built a Twin Peakswater-works system after a quarrel with hisneighbor Behrend Joost, who was already inthe water business and whose terms of serv-ice failed to satisfy the newcomer. More thanone water-works system has been so initiated. Through the kindness of Dr. Leonardsome of the pictures recording this forgottenenterprise are reproduced in this issue. Thesystem included the Nellie Dam and theNellie Reservoir, Lake Lincoln and LincolnDam, flumes, the Blaine Pumps and the. Alfred Clarke. guests respectfully aloof, proudlyhis water system Blaine Tanks. The lakes were scarcely lakes,however, and the dams were extremely primi-tive affairs. Moreover, it is doubtful whetherthe Plumed Knight would have greatlyappreciated the application of his name tosuch humble installations. The personnel of this hydraulic projectcannot have been large. As for executive di-rection, it was all concentrated in NobbyClarke. He was president, chief engineer,head of the entertainment committee (for hegave picnics), and doubtless bill-collector. The Clarke residence still stands in all itshorrific architectural pretensions. But of thewater works, alas! no vestige remains. Theyare one with the glory that was Greece andthe grandeur that was Rome. The enterprisewas blighted at the start because PresidentHarrison, on his visit to San Francisco, re-fused to preside at the dedicatory ceremonies. 14 SAN FRANCISCO WATER January, 192
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectwatersupply, bookyear
