History Lesson:
In 1907 Perry Roe and Robert Abernethy purchased property for the Emerson Mill. The mill site was situated where Flavelle Cedar is located today on Murray Street.
Roe and Abernathy had to find a way to supply water for storage in a water tower at the Mill in case of fire. They constructed a pipeline down Elgin street that was fed from a small creek they had dammed south of Henry street.
Around this time a fellow from Thorne, England had patented a "Silent Valveless Water Waste Preventer" a.k.a. flush toilet. The fellows name was Thomas Crapper (1836 - 1910) and his flush toilet was nick named the "Crapper". A flush toilet at that time was also called a “water closet”.
The early "Crappers," had a wall mounted water reservoir about six feet above the bowl. The water valve was operated by a long chain. The operation was very noisy and didn't always work.
Perry Roe, who became Port Moody's first Mayor, built his house on the corner of St. John's and Elgin. Some may know this building as Perry's Restaurant (now the Perry Roe Building). Perry Roe had a "Crapper" installed and the water supply was from the Elgin Street pipeline that was being used to supply water to the mill. It was the first “water closet” in Port Moody.
Location:
This is an urban cache. Beware of Muggles. Parking is available on Elgin St. in Port Moody
Cache Container:
550ml Lock & Lock painted green.
Original Cache Contents:
FTF Prize - $10.00 Tim Horton's Gift Certificate, Captain Underpants, a few tiny rubber duckies, a compass toy, logbook, sharpener, 2 pencils, history information card.
Works Consulted:
Al Sholund. Flushback – The First Water Closet in Port Moody. [Online] February 5, 2006. (City of Port Moody Link)
Plumbing World. Thomas Crapper Myth & Reality. [Online] February 5, 2006. (Plumbing World Link)
Wikipedia. Thomas Crapper. [Online] February 5, 2006. ( Wikipedia Link)