In our previous coverage of the history of the King George County Service Authority, we learned a little about the very early stages of public water and sewer in the County. As the County ended the 1950s, things were developing rapidly enough to see the formation of the Dahlgren Sanitary District within only a few years. In fact, the 1960s would see some explosive growth in the County regarding water and sewer utilities.
In June of 1960, a possible revision to the Subdivision Ordinance was making headlines, especially for those living along the water front. While this seems unrelated to water and sewer utilities, there is a connection. This potential change would mean a reduction in the minimum lot size allowed. Regarding this minimum lot size, Dr. Frederick J. Spencer, a local health director, said that a "lack of any minimum leads to trouble." A few months later in October of 1960, the Board of Supervisors approved the new ordinance to state that the minimum lot size is "15,000 square feet with 100 foot width at building line for homes served by both water and sewer." For those homes served by either water or sewer, but not both, the minimum lot size was 20,000 square feet. And for lots served by neither water nor sewer, the minimum lot size was 30,000 square feet. The idea was that those homes using a septic tank would need more land than those using a sewer system.
Also in 1960, the Courthouse well was being prepared to be placed "back into service." Anecdotally, I've heard that this was the first well in the County or the first public well. In the 1950s there was certainly evidence of the fire department asking for a well in the Courthouse area, but nothing was readily available to prove it in our research.
By the middle of 1961, construction of the Cloverdale subdivision began. Cloverdale would eventually be re-named Bayberry Estates and is located just off Route 301 in Dahlgren at the site of an old private airport once owned by the Burgess family. The neighborhood would have a water and sewer system built with water being supplied by the King George Utility Corporation. The design had a 720 foot artesian well, six and eight inch water lines, five fire hydrants, a booster pump, and a lagoon-type sewer system.
In August of 1961, the Sydnor Pump and Well Company of Richmond was approved to install the water and sewer systems in Cloverdale. Two months later, Sydnor was also approved to install a private water system in Owens. This new system in Owens was to have 25 users to start and was capable to handle up to 100 users.
November of 1962 saw some changes. Dr. Herbert A. Hibben was appointed as the new Health Director for the area. The Cloverdale development was bought by the Dahlgren Development Corporation. George W. Stanford was the President of the Dahlgren Development Corporation and Carl R. Jenkins was the Secretary and Treasurer. The first of two sewage lagoons were started. This first lagoon was to be about 2.5 acres in size and capable of handling 150 homes. The second lagoon was planned to be 3 acres. Both lagoons were to be surrounded by 20 acres of land. In early 1963, the well in Owens was finally drilled and served eleven homes and one store.
Stay tuned as we continue to research the history of the King George County Service Authority.
In June of 1960, a possible revision to the Subdivision Ordinance was making headlines, especially for those living along the water front. While this seems unrelated to water and sewer utilities, there is a connection. This potential change would mean a reduction in the minimum lot size allowed. Regarding this minimum lot size, Dr. Frederick J. Spencer, a local health director, said that a "lack of any minimum leads to trouble." A few months later in October of 1960, the Board of Supervisors approved the new ordinance to state that the minimum lot size is "15,000 square feet with 100 foot width at building line for homes served by both water and sewer." For those homes served by either water or sewer, but not both, the minimum lot size was 20,000 square feet. And for lots served by neither water nor sewer, the minimum lot size was 30,000 square feet. The idea was that those homes using a septic tank would need more land than those using a sewer system.
Also in 1960, the Courthouse well was being prepared to be placed "back into service." Anecdotally, I've heard that this was the first well in the County or the first public well. In the 1950s there was certainly evidence of the fire department asking for a well in the Courthouse area, but nothing was readily available to prove it in our research.
By the middle of 1961, construction of the Cloverdale subdivision began. Cloverdale would eventually be re-named Bayberry Estates and is located just off Route 301 in Dahlgren at the site of an old private airport once owned by the Burgess family. The neighborhood would have a water and sewer system built with water being supplied by the King George Utility Corporation. The design had a 720 foot artesian well, six and eight inch water lines, five fire hydrants, a booster pump, and a lagoon-type sewer system.
In August of 1961, the Sydnor Pump and Well Company of Richmond was approved to install the water and sewer systems in Cloverdale. Two months later, Sydnor was also approved to install a private water system in Owens. This new system in Owens was to have 25 users to start and was capable to handle up to 100 users.
November of 1962 saw some changes. Dr. Herbert A. Hibben was appointed as the new Health Director for the area. The Cloverdale development was bought by the Dahlgren Development Corporation. George W. Stanford was the President of the Dahlgren Development Corporation and Carl R. Jenkins was the Secretary and Treasurer. The first of two sewage lagoons were started. This first lagoon was to be about 2.5 acres in size and capable of handling 150 homes. The second lagoon was planned to be 3 acres. Both lagoons were to be surrounded by 20 acres of land. In early 1963, the well in Owens was finally drilled and served eleven homes and one store.
Stay tuned as we continue to research the history of the King George County Service Authority.
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