Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Greenbrook Pumping Station

Greenbrook Station was called Shoemaker Ave. until 1965. It is located next to Shoemaker Lake on Greenbrook Drive which was the first water source used by waterworks in Berlin (Kitchener). In 1899 wells were created at the site in order to use ground instead of surface water. The station has been used continuously since 1899; however during 1912-1913 the original steam-powered pump-house was replaced with a new building and electric pumps. In 1930 a Ruston diesel engine and generator were installed to replace the previous gasoline engine used as a reserve power supply. A two-million gallon reservoir was also added by 1938. The buildings were redone again in the 1960s. The Kitchener Water Commission (1899-1972) tried to enhance the value of Shoemaker Station by adding landscaping and decorations to the site such as thousands of pine seedlings planted in the 1920s. The site still operates but is now fully automated. It is designated as a protected Ontario Heritage Building.

Greenbrook previously acted as an administrative centre for waterworks in Kitchener. As a result, records concerning other water sites in Kitchener were stored at Greenbrook. This administrative unit maintains all of the records that were stored at Greenbrook until they were transferred to the Archives.

Kitchener Water Commission 1899-1972

Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Water Services Division 1973-present