This small decorative building located on Main Street is the pump house for the city's reservoir. The reservoir and pump house were constructed by the city of Burlington in 1867. The reservoir began operation Christmas day 1867.1 The following is excerpted from the Annual Report of the City of Burlington for the year ending February 1868:

	Actual Expense	Estimated Expense
Pier Wooden Conduit, Pump Well, Suction or Inlet Pipe and Lot	2,139.00	5431.70
Reservoir, including purchase of Land and Gate House	8,733.00	9,193.00
Engine and Boiler in Place	10,600.00	11,500.00
Engine Room, Boiler and Fuel Room and Chimney	3,540.00	4,130.77
Cast Iron Pipe, laid	5,902.00	6,106.67
Freight on Cement Pipe	313.00	200.00
Trenching and Backfilling	2,325.00	1,534.00
Laying Cast Iron Pipe, making joints and cartage	2,028.00	1,390.00
Valves and Gates	296.00	345.00
Hydrants, double, set and boxed	854.00	720.00
Drinking Fountain	140.00	200.00
Engineering and Office Expense	3,354.67	4,000.00
Fuel Shed	340.00
Contingent	474.84	2,818.35
	$56,386.51	$66,284.99