A Field Guide to New York City Manhole Covers


CROTON AQUEDUCT DPT 1862

Central Park

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A Most Elegant Manhole Cover

This surprisingly elegant cover sits just below the Onassis Reservoir in Central Park, and acts as a de facto commemoration of the first flow of water into the new lake on Aug 19th 1862. Thousands of New Yorkers gathered around and in the newly dug lake bed as 10 water gates opened, bringing Croton water from the old reservoir that stood on what is now the Great Lawn. Many were disappointed as the water barely covered the lake bottom by the end of the day, but, some walked past this very manhole cover to enjoy the free drinks (water of course. but perhaps more) and food at the construction company offices at Fifth Ave and 86th St. Tip o' the Hat to Stanley Zucker and Untapped New York for recently 'rediscovering' this cover.

DESIGN:

The basic design is a bulls eye drain, a type that is occasionally seen to this day. It has somewhat amateurishly carved letters, note especially the A and R and the raised PT in DPT. However, it's the intricacy and delicacy of the casting that makes this cover stand out.

UTILITY:

This cover is probably over one of the drain lines out of the reservoir carrying overflow water to nearby sewers. More specifically it is probably over a "silt well" a deep depression that would slow the overall flow of water and allow any debris to fall out. The silt would then be periodically cleaned out from above.

RANGE:

This beauty is just south of the East Drive between the pathway from Fifth Ave and the 85th St. transverse. It is probably unique today, however, about 50 ft or so north of this cover is an innocuous modern cover sitting in a 19th century captains wheel seat with 12 cogs , identical to the 12 around our 1862 standout.

Related Images Follow


Don Burmeister -- Photographs