American Water gives $50,000 to preserve historic well at former army plant
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Ranney Well once supplied the mighty Indiana Army Ammunition Plant in Charlestown, but disuse shut the well down for the past two decades.
Now thanks to a $50,000 STEM Education grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation, Ranney Well is on track for restoration.
In a press release, the nonprofit said the money will go toward restoring the well and collecting data about the aquifer it draws from.
The well currently sits in Charlestown State Park on land that used to be the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. The plant started in the 1940s as the world’s largest producer of smokeless powder which is a key component of modern gunpowder.
Ranney Well supplied the plant’s operations for five decades until the facility shut down in the mid-1990s. The well fell out of use, and the above-ground structures used to maintain the well were removed, according to the release.
“The funding provided by the American Water Charitable Foundation will help transform the last remaining Ranney Well into a safe, accessible and educational destination for all park visitors.” said Jill Duvall, vice president of the Friends of Charlestown State Park. “This project will create new opportunities for outdoor learning, water education and historical discovery, especially for local schools and youth programs.”
The American Water Charitable Foundation is the nonprofit arm of American Water—the largest regulated water utility in the U.S. Indiana American Water is a subsidiary, and President Barry Suits said the grant will help educate the region about the importance of water resources in shaping the region.
“This grant will help bring to life an engaging new exhibit focused on watershed protection and the vital role the Ohio River plays in supplying our region’s water,” Suits said in the release. “By working together with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, we can help educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.”