The Old Family Cistern Pump
~ by Paul Sackmann
The cistern pump in this picture once graced the side yard of an old farm house here in Brown County. This kind of pump is called a chain drive pump. Under its metal skin is a sprocket that carried a connected chain down below the water level. Little rubber buckets were on the chain every six inches or so and they would scoop water from the cistern when the handle was turned. The chain drive would carry a steady flow from the cistern up and out the spigot end of the pump.
Almost all farms and homes in and around Brown County relied on a pump of one sort or another back 70 years or more.
This pump’ s cistern held 2,500 gallons and was brick lined. The water was collected from gutters placed on an outbuilding and channeled into the cistern.
Not a bad free water source for those days before the water utility.•
FIELD NOTES continued from 34 The indicator will aid resource managers with issues such as invasive species, migratory animals, pollinators and their resource plants, plant disease vectors and fire seasons. This is critical to understanding and forecasting landscape changes, serves as a model for other monitoring programs, and is already in use by the National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuges.
This is all good news. Monitoring of weather changes on a grander scale is taking place. Science is an undeniably useful tool in this challenge, funded and supported by programs like the Phenology Network.
When I see a trout lily or Dutchman’ s britches blooming a few weeks later than I think is normal, or hear the wood thrush call in our woods not as loud or numerous as previously, I have resources to help me understand what’ s happening. Subtle observations like mine are being documented, data collected, and possible explanations offered. Over time, they are refined with more study. Only by understanding the effects of change around me do I become a more responsible steward of the land, an informed voter, and one more notetaking nature lover. •
LEAGUE continued from 57
care or feel some responsibility, but your views will not be part of those decisions if you don’ t pay attention.”
Winn said at the local level, especially in a small county like Brown County, an individual can have a big impact by showing up, expressing an opinion, and getting to know the local officials. A great example is the ongoing discussion of a proposed revised septic ordinance.
“ A lot of Brown Countians had concerns and showed up a couple of weeks ago to a special hearing held by the county Commissioners. They voiced these concerns passionately but in a civil manner, and the Commissioners took note and sent the draft back to the Health Board for further work,” Winn said.“ Other examples of citizen participation and involvement have included the remonstrance in 2013 against plans to incur debt to renovate and expand the Courthouse, and the support of our citizens for two referendums in 2010 and 2016 increasing our property taxes slightly to help the Career Resource Center and the Schools.”
To view upcoming events and learn more about the League you can visit their website < lwvbrowncounty. org >.•
70 Our Brown County • May / June 2018