News and Events
WOODEN WATERWHEEL RETURNS TO CAMPUS
St. Davids, PA, August 23, 2010: Eastern University's historic Waterwheel, built in 1912 to power water fountains on the Walton Estate, has received some much-needed attention, thanks in part to the classes of 2009 and 2010. Danny Caprioli and his crew removed the wooden Waterwheel July 15 and took it to Caprioli Masonry in Paoli, PA. The rebuilt wooden wheel was returned to the St. Davids campus on August 19. The process of remounting it was a long and difficult one, but it is now back in place.
Using the old Waterwheel as a pattern, a new wheel was created from recovered/sunken cypress from Louisiana that is over 100 years old. The original Waterwheel was also built of cypress, so this recovered wood, which sinks to the bottom of the river when a large quantity of wood is being floated, may be as old or older than the original cypress. This carpentry work was done by Bob Regn.
Danny Caprioli is the son of the man (also named Dan Caprioli) who did similar restoration work on the Waterwheel in 1972.
The Save Our Waterwheel campaign was inspired by the class of 2009. As their class gift, they decided to add an eco-friendly generator to the waterwheel. This generator will use the power of the wheel to turn on the lights that illuminate it at night. This accent lighting was added in 2007 in memory of Professor Robert Thomas '73.
Before the generator can be installed, the wheel itself needs to be completely restored. The attached pump house is also in need of repairs. The class of 2010 will be donating their class gift money to the Waterwheel restoration.
You are invited to be part of this historic project. Donations of any size are welcome. If you donate $100 or more, your name will be engraved onto a plaque that will be displayed by the Waterwheel. To make a donation online, go to: http://www.alumni.eastern.edu/Page.aspx?pid=405
You may also mail your donations to The Alumni Office, 1300 Eagle Road, St. Davids, PA 19087.
