Historical Marker

Victoria Pumping Station

Marker installed: 2011
Marker size: 27" x 42"

VICTORIA PUMPING STATION

IN THE 1880s, ENGLISH-BORN WILLIAM WHEELER (1861-1931) CAME TO TEXAS WITH THE C. E. GRAY CONSTRUCTION CO. TO INSTALL WATER WORKS FOR PALESTINE, TYLER, TAYLOR, COLUMBUS, AND VICTORIA. HE ARRIVED IN VICTORIA IN JUNE 1884 WITH CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER J. T. JONES. UPON COMPLETION OF THE CONTRACT IN EARLY 1885, WHEELER WAS HIRED AS VICTORIA’S SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER WORKS.

THE FIRST FRAME BOILER HOUSE WAS LOST TO FIRE AND REPLACED BY A BRICK BUILDING c. 1890, DESIGNED BY LOCAL ARCHITECT JULES C. LEFFLAND. THIS BUILDING HOUSED TWO BOILERS AND TWO PUMPS, WHICH DREW WATER FROM THE GUADALUPE RIVER AND DELIVERED IT TO A 100-FOOT TALL STANDPIPE IN THE CENTER OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE. IN 1901 WHEELER’S NEW HOME NEAR THE WATER WORKS INCLUDED A SYSTEM PRESSURE GAUGE IN THE CENTRAL HALL, SO THAT HE COULD MONITOR THE WATER PRESSURE AFTER HOURS. IN 1904 THE NEW MUNICIPAL SEWER SYSTEM WAS PLACED UNDER WHEELER’S SUPERVISION. FRANK REUBEN ROCKWELL BUILT THE SITE’S FIRST RESERVOIR IN 1909. TWO DEEP WELLS DRILLED THE SAME YEAR BY LAYNE AND BOWLER OF HOUSTON ENDED THE SYSTEM’S USE OF UNTREATED RIVER WATER. WHEELER RETIRED IN 1922 AND H. G. KING REPLACED HIM. TERRELL BARTLETT ENGINEERING CO. (1926) AND VICTORIA ARCHITECT KAI J. LEFFLAND (1936) DESIGNED ADDITIONS TO THE ORIGINAL BUILDING. THE COMPLEX IS MASONRY WITH STUCCO CONSTRUCTION, FLAT ROOFS AND A STRING COURSE BELOW THE PARAPET. METAL CASEMENT WINDOWS AND PROJECTING STRUCTURAL PIERS DIVIDE WALLS INTO MULTIPLE BAYS.

BY 1970, NEW CITY FACILITIES HAD RENDERED THE SITE OBSOLETE. PORTIONS WERE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1986. AFTER THE BUILDINGS WERE THREATENED WITH DEMOLITION, THE SITE WHICH HAD BEEN PUBLIC LAND SINCE 1841 BECAME PRIVATE PROPERTY IN MARCH 2010. THIS NOTABLE MUNICIPAL ARCHITECTURE REMAINS A FIXTURE NEAR RIVERSIDE PARK. A COMPLETE RENOVATION WAS COMPLETED IN 2011.

RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK – 2011

As one of the most visible programs of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), historical markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including: the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites; events that changed the course of local and state history; and individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state, community organizations, and businesses.

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Victoria County is located in southeastern Texas and was originally occupied by Native American tribes such as the Karankawa and the Tonkawa. However, the area was colonized by the Spanish in the 18th century and named in honor of the Queen of Spain, Victoria.

In the early 19th century, Anglo-American settlers began to move into the area, attracted by the fertile land for agriculture and the potential for ample grazing. The Mexican government encouraged colonization, and by 1834, there were around 100 families living in the region. However, tensions between the settlers and the Mexican government eventually led to the Texas Revolution in 1835.

During the Texas Revolution, Victoria became a strategic point for both the Texian and Mexican armies. The Battle of Guadalupe River occurred here in 1835, where the Texian rebels under the command of George Collingsworth captured the Mexican garrison without bloodshed. The town of Victoria formally became the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1839 before it was moved to Houston and later Austin.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Victoria County experienced significant growth and development. The railroad arrived in the late 1800s, leading to increased trade and the expansion of the local economy. The discovery of oil in the early 20th century further contributed to the county's prosperity. Today, Victoria County is a thriving hub for agriculture, oil and gas production, and serves as a regional center for healthcare, education, and businesses.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Victoria County, Texas.

  • 1824 - Victoria County is established as a Municipality of Mexico
  • 1836 - Texas gains independence from Mexico
  • 1837 - Victoria County is created as an original county of the Republic of Texas
  • 1852 - The town of Victoria becomes the county seat
  • 1860 - Population of Victoria County reaches 2,305
  • 1874 - The Texas Mexican Railway expands into Victoria County, stimulating economic growth
  • 1899 - Oil is discovered in the county, leading to a boom in the petroleum industry
  • 1924 - The DuPont Company establishes a plant in Victoria County, contributing to industrial development
  • 1930 - Population of Victoria County exceeds 30,000
  • 1952 - The O'Connor-Proctor Building, the first air-conditioned building in town, is constructed
  • 1960 - Victoria County Courthouse is added to the National Register of Historic Places
  • 2008 - Hurricane Ike causes extensive damage to Victoria County
  • 2019 - Victoria County celebrates its 182nd anniversary