Salem - John F. Hurley Blog 1894 John F. Hurley, Member of Salem Water Board Before Being Elected Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts, When on the Salem Water Board, New England Water Works Association, Construction of Pipe Line from Lake Wenham, Longham Basin

1894 - 1895 John F. Hurley, before being elected Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts,  When on the Salem Water Board,  New England Water Works Association, Construction of pipe line from Lake Wenham, Longham Basin

John Hurley was a member of the New England Water Works Association Water Board Salem Division. I have no idea when he was elected to the board, but he is in all the group photos.  They ran large pipes from Lake Wenham to Salem by way of Longham Basin to bring water to the growing town.  I think from him being on this board motivated him to seek higher office.  Six year later at the turn of the century he was elected as mayor of Salem. This is the beginning of John Hurley's political life and that is why I am listing it. 

All the photos have been cropped and are partial until  a latter date when I will post the entire photo.
These are very large cabinet cards photographs that shows different phases of the construction of the Water Works.  There are a series of eight  9.5" x 7"  photos on 10.25"  x 9" cabinet cards. 

The first photo is a group photo of the New England Water Works Association, Salem Board.  It is separate from the series of eight photos of the construction of the Water Works.

Below is a photo of what is left of the caption on the first of nine photos that shows the construction and completion of the Salem Water Work project of 1894(or maybe earlier) to 1895.

 (Partial). NEW ENGLAND WATER WORKS A......I believe the rest is ssociation. Photographed by O. W. Leighton, Salem, Mass
and underneath this a chip that has printed:   M  WATER BOARD. In all probability the letter M is for Salem.

This is John Hurley in the middle of the group photo of the Salem Water Board.  I believe the lady to his right is is wife, for she is wearing a similar badge in their lapel, except hers is smaller.  He is wearing his trademark Top Hat and mutton sideburns.

Photo #1 (Partial) Shows the 23 feet cut for the pipe line to follow the natural gravity flow to the filter system in Salem. Photo was taken on December 1894.

Photo #2 (Partial) This photo was taken at the Longham Basin taken on December 22, 1894. It looks as if they are building a structure in the process of bring water to Salem.

Photo #3 (Partial) Here is the pipe line being constructed  on December 22, 1894 in the Longham Basin that will bring water to Salem

Photo #4 (Partial).  Here in this photo we see the Longham water outlet into Wenham Lake on January 24, 1895

Photo #5 (Partial) Here is John F. Hurley on May 20, 1895 with the Water Board  visiting the outlet from Wenham Lake when full 

Photo #6 (Partial)  This photo taken on May 20, 1895 shows Water Board member John F.Hurley sitting in a horse and buggy with his trademark Top Hat. This photo is dated and is part of a nine photo series that shows the construction of the water work from the initial dredging to burying the pipes to completed project.

Photo #6 (Partial) Here is a close-up of John F. Hurley as a board member visiting Wenham Lake as it is finished filling.  As always he is wearing his trademark top hat on May 20, 1895. At end of decade he will become Mayor of Salem.

Photo #7 (Partial) Here we have Wenham Lake on May 20, 1895 completely full

Photo #8 (Partial). This photo shows Wenham Lake at the outlet on May 27, 1895.  There is a building in the background that I am sure can be identified.