Description of the attraction
More than 140 years have passed since the death of the first mayor of Murom, Aleksey Vasilyevich Ermakov, and his good deeds are still alive today. For example, the Water Tower, which is located at the intersection of Sovetskaya Street and Lenin Street, is rightly considered one of the main attractions of the city, and the city water supply system, laid in the 19th century, was one of the first in the country. It is noteworthy that at that time there was no water supply even in the district center - in Vladimir.
A local legend tells that once Aleksey Vasilyevich, walking through the city, met a woman carrying water in buckets on rocker arms and climbing a steep mountain. She complained that it was not easy to carry water from the springs, and then Ermakov came up with the idea to build a water supply system in the city.
In the late spring of 1863, the governor invited the famous engineer Yegor Ivanovich Yerzhemsky to Murom. He developed design estimates and assisted in ordering German-made cast iron pipes. And on July 1 of the same year, the foundation was laid for the Water Tower. At its base, a memorial plate was placed with an inscription, which said that the foundation of the building of the tower took place during the reign of Emperor Alexander II, with funds donated by the mayor Ermakov, and in memory of this event the building will be called the tower of Mr. Ermakov.
On August 26, 1864, a solemn ceremony of the Murom water supply system took place. In the presence of the governor, Bishop Theophanes of the Vladimir-Suzdal diocese made a procession with the cross to the chapel located at the pump station, blessed the water and prayed at the Water Tower. After the prayer, the Oka water was released from the pipe, filling the bowl to the brim, installed at the bottom of the building. At this time, boats were shooting on the Oka, and in the evening the festive events ended with wonderful illumination.
The water supply system has embraced both government buildings and private houses. Transferring the water supply to Murom, A. V. Ermakov forbade renting it for the purpose of making a profit and gave permission to all local residents to use water from columns and fountains free of charge. Watering holes for horses were created in 16 water-folding booths.
High quality waterworks did not require repair for more than half a century. In addition to cast iron structures, water was supplied through wooden pipes, the advantage of which was that the wood did not corrode. A part of a wooden pipe is still kept in the historical and art museum of Murom.
The water tower is a historical relic of Murom. In modern times, some structures have survived from the 1st Murom water supply system: the tower itself, a water pumping station with 19th century mechanisms and a water pump on Pervomayskaya Street, which now houses a chapel.
The three-story brick tower, which combined the functions of a water pumping station and a guard fire tower, was decorated with patterned turrets on the upper part and completed with a superstructure with a spire. 3 rows of windows are decorated with carved frames.
In 1974, a large city clock was hung on the tower, which played the melody "There were three pines on the Murom path …" every hour. Their game interfered with sleep, and after a large number of complaints from the Muromites, the chimes were turned off.
In the 19th century, the city dwellers learned the weather forecast by the color of the flag hung on the building. So, for example, a dark flag meant that the frost in Murom reached -30 °. This was great news for schoolchildren, since classes in gymnasiums were not held at this temperature.
In 2008, the Water Tower regained its original meaning. But water comes here not from the Oka, but from an artesian well. An iron removal station was installed in the tower, and the townspeople note that this water is soft, purified and can be consumed without boiling.
