SEARS W.H.

SEARS W.H. 08.12. 1847 Plymouth MA/USA 07.10. 1911 Plymouth MA/USA Walter Herbert Sears graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT, Cambridge MA, in 1868. He was then engaged for the construction of water works at Boston MA, and as chief engineer at Winchester MA until 1875, from when he held a similar position at Pawtucket RI. He then moved in 1880 to Stillwater MN where he was also in charge of the city water works. After return to the East he continued with comparable projects for the East Jersey Water Company, Paterson NJ. He was from 1892 to 1893 chief assistant engineer on additional water supply for Rochester NY, from when he was engaged until 1903 in general engineering practice. Sears was appointed in 1904 division engineer of the Croton River Diversion of the Aqueduct Commission, New York City, with works near Katonah NY. He was until 1910 chief engineer in charge of the extensions of the Croton Water Supply project. The Cross River Reservoir was completed, and construction of the Croton Falls Reservoir started and carried out nearly to completion. However, Sears turned ill and was unable to return to active work. His professional work was marked with great thoroughness in which he studied each problem. He had the ability of foreseeing difficulties, and when they came up, he was ready with plans to surmount them. This preparedness resulted from constant observation of the nature, whereby he became familiar with the causes, effects, and processes which normally remain not noted by others. He thus had a keen appreciation of the beauties of natural sceneries, and when a Park Commission was created at Plymouth in 1895, he became member. The creation of an attractive park system in his native city was a source of absorbing interest to him, and the beauties are largely due to his artistic plans which he made, as commissioner, without any financial compensation. His unselfish civic interest was also displayed by presenting the city with an elaborate report on the improvement of its public water works, and these plans were duly realized. He was as a person modest, gentle, and lovable in a high degree so that he won the respect and sincere affection of many friends and associates. Anonymous (1905). New York City and vicinity: Engng. works. McGraw-Hill: New York. (P) Anonymous (1912). Sears, W.H. Trans. ASCE 75: 1180-1181. Cowan, J.F., Walker, H.W., Sears, W.H. (1907). Report to the aqueduct commissioners. Mitchell & Sons: New York. Sears, W.H. (1907). Report of the chief engineer on the Jerome Park Reservoir. New York.