CHURCH B.S.

CHURCH B.S. 17.04. 1836 Belvidere NY/USA 10.12. 1910 New York NY/USA Benjamin Silliman Church graduated in 1856 from Dartmouth College, Hanover NH, and after a course in civil engineering became a topographer on Croton Aqueduct for the water supply of New York City. This survey was made to locate the optimum sites for storage reservoirs. In 1858 he was transferred to the construction of the new receiving reservoir in Central Park, New York City, having then a capacity of 270 million liters. He was appointed then resident engineer in charge of the Old Croton Aqueduct, the Croton Reservoirs, and the pipe system, continuing in this position until 1880. Later he was Colonel of Engineers in New York State, so that he was known thereafter as Col. Church. During his long period connected with the Croton Water Works, Church had an excellent opportunity to study the weak points of the scheme, and to investigate plans for the increase of the city’s water supply. As early as in 1868, he planned the construction of a large masonry dam across Croton River, 6 km in the tailwater of the Old Croton Dam, whereby a large storage reservoir of 300 km2 would be formed. In 1880 he was made consulting engineer of the Department of Public Works, assisting Ellis S. Chesbrough (1813-1886) in preparing plans for a large reservoir in Croton watershed, and of a new aqueduct from it to the city. The reservoir was to be formed with a 80 m high masonry dam near the Old Quaker Bridge, so that it was named Quaker Bridge Dam. In 1883 Church was appointed chief engineer of the Aqueduct Commission, holding this position until 1888, when made its consulting engineer. In 1889 he retired from the service of NYC after 33 years. He did then general engineering business as a consultant, his advice being sought in projects for water supply and water power both in the USA and in Canada. In 1897, Church became interested in steam engines, and then continued to work in this field until his death. His endeavor was to produce an engine which, while retaining all characteristics of a water turbine, would provide for the steam flow having a perfect force balance due to the steam pressure and the mechanical stresses. Church also was the inventor of a water meter, and a waste water detector. Anonymous (1910). Benjamin S. Church. Engineering News 64(24): 670; 64(25): 702. Church, B.S., Fteley, A. (1889). Design and construction of high masonry dams. New York. Church, B.S. (1902). Concerning the water supply of New York. Croton Aqueduct Dept.: NYC. https://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=487897&image ID=1213861&parent_id=487785&s P

CHURCH I.P. 22.07. 1851 Ansonia CT/USA 08.05. 1931 Ithaca NY/USA Irving Porter Church graduated in 1873 from Cornell University as a civil engineer and then practiced until 1876 when being appointed assistant professor of civil engineering at his Alma Mater. From 1892 until retirement in 1916 he was there professor of applied mechanics and hydraulics. His long career extended over a period when the study of engineering and mechanics expanded greatly, and he took an important part in shaping the technical courses and in compiling appropriate texts. His students attained eminence in all fields of engineering. Church was an associate member of civil engineering, and a member of the Cornell Association of Civil Engineers. In 1929 the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education awarded him the Gold Medal for ‘accomplishment in technical teaching and actual advancement in the art of technical training’. Church published three books, which were then compiled into his basic text Mechanics of engineering. This epoch-making work went through a number of editions and became one of the most widely used textbooks of the United States. In addition to his various books, Church also published in technical journals. He was the founder of the technical school as opposed to the trade school. He donated to Cornell University the Fuertes Laboratory, including a 12-inch telescope lens. He further established in 1917 the Irving P. Church Fund for Cornell alumni to purchase books. Painting was one of his favorite diversions in his later years, and his house was filled with his copies of masterpieces. Anonymous (1905). Church, Irving P. Who’s who in America: 267. Marquis: New Providence NJ. Anonymous (1921). Irving P. Church. American men of science 3: 126. Science Press: New York. Anonymous (1980). Church, Irving Porter. Mechanical engineers in America born prior to 1860: 89. ASME: New York. Church, I.P. (1887). Applied mechanics and hydraulics. Cornell University: Ithaca NY. Church, I.P. (1889). A treatise on hydraulics and pneumatics. Wiley: New York. Church, I.P. (1898). Mechanics of engineering. Wiley: New York. Church, I.P. (1902). Diagrams of mean velocity of water in open channels. Wiley: New York. Church, I.P. (1905). Hydraulic motors with related subjects, including centrifugal pumps, pipes, and open channels, designed as a text-book for engineering schools. Wiley: New York. Church, I.P. (1913). Friction head in backwater problems. Engineering News-Record 68(6): 168. Church, I.P. (1915). Discussion of Penstock and surge-tank problems. Trans. ASCE 79: 272-277. https://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/newscornell?a=d&d=CDS19171109.2.1.15.1&e= P