Burlington Heritage Buildings - The Burlington Pump House

                                            Burlington Heritage Buildings - The Burlington Pump House

In 1908 Burlington was a bustling shipping town on the shores of Lake Ontario. With it's proximity to water transportation, the town was quickly growing and the citizens demand for clean drinking water soon became a main concern with the town council.


The funds were allocated and an engineer was sought out for the designing of the desired 'Pump House' which was to built near an underground source of clean filtred water on the shores of Burlington Beach.

Engineer W.C. Chipman was hired. He designed a beautiful, brick building with classical detailing in the 'Beaux Art' style, showing how important this building was to be from an architectural standpoint.

On June 14, 1909, Reeve Maxwell Smith turned the first sod and the Burlington Pump House began it's illustrious history.

E. Williamson was chosen to build the structure at a cost of $3,554.00. Smart Turner Co. supplied and installed the electrically operated pumping machinery at a cost of $5000.00.

The pump well was the final addition to the building at a cost of $1,943.00.

The Burlington Pump House was put into commission in March of 1910 and served the citizens of Burlington dutifully until 1936, a year after Burlington's first water filtration plant was built.

The Pump House then became a private residence for a number of years.

The Burlington Pump House was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1992.

After braving the wind and storms that blow in off the shores of Lake Ontario all of these years, the beautiful building now has fallen into disuse. Peeling paint and dusty windows becry the loneliness of a building that once served Burlington so well.


In the past year, discussions have been underway by city council as to what should be done with the building.

With it's ideal location on the Burlington Beach, a decision has been reached that will see the Burlington Pump House eventually become a pub or food venue serving the public who frequent the beach in the summer season.

The Burlington Pump House is one of Burlington's most interesting Heritage Buildings, having a history encompassing utility, then residential and now, finally, in it's twilight years, one of recreation and enjoyment.