Springhouses were quite common in rural areas before the use of electricity. They would build a small structure over a spring that would provide a constant supply of cool water (36 to 40 degrees) almost all year ’round. The spring water would feed into a trough and a pipe would direct the water flow back into the stream. They would store their food and milk cans in the constant flow running through the waterproof trough.
We are lucky enough to have such a old springhouse on the Erie National Wildlife Refuge. It was made of local sandstone. I took some photos last Sunday of this interesting springhouse. The trough is overflowing onto the floor of the springhouse. I think it is because the pipe leading the water out is iced up with the cold winter weather. Below are some photos I took of the springhouse.
Photo taken of the low end of the springhouse where the water flowed out of the pipe and down the hill and fed into a stream.
A photo of the upper side and entrance to the springhouse.
A closeup of the sandstone blocks used to make the springhouse.
A photo inside the springhouse.
Something is partially blocking the pipe that lets the water out of the springhouse and is causing the water to overflow the trough.
