Waukesha and the Great Hygeia Water War

John Schoenknecht gave a fascinating presentation on the history of the Hygeia Mineral Spring. John described a nearly violent confrontation that occurred in Waukesha over water rights. The “war” resulted from an ill-fated attempt to run a 6” pipe from the spring to Chicago for the World’s Fair/Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. It was the Hygeia construction crew workers who were going to connect the pipe to the well vs. the citizens of Waukesha who would not tolerate it. Ultimately a battle was averted and the workers were turned away - twice. A pipeline was built from a nearby Big Bend and had the concession at the fair with hundreds of water stands at the fair selling water for 1 cent per glass. The company spent over a million dollars and was bankrupted.
John brought a selection of the pipe, some bottles, etched advertising glasses, advertising china and lots of interesting photographs. It was a great presentation. It was video recorded by Rick Tyler.