Suicide Victims to Wrecked Cars Found in Historic Eden Park Reservoir, Cincinnati, Ohio

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The land that Eden Park occupies today was originally owned by Nicholas Longworth, a prominent Cincinnati landowner who previously used the area as a vineyard and called the estate “the Garden of Eden” in reference to the biblical Garden of Eden. The city of Cincinnati bought the acreage from Longworth in 1869 and retained the name “Eden” for the park.
The city constructed a 12 acre, 96 million gallon reservoir that was completed in 1878. The Eden Park Station No. 7 pumped water from the Ohio River into the reservoir and then into the Eden Park Stand Pipe.
The east basin retaining wall consisted of eight elliptical arches, each spanning 55’. The length was 1,250’. The width at the base was 48.5’, tapering to 25' on the top walk. These basins were cleaned in alternate years and everything was found from wrecked cars to suicide victims. Whenever this cleaning took place municipal picnics, complete with music and dancing were held inside the empty basin. Although chemical purification of city water began in 1907 at the new water plant upriver at California, the Eden Park reservoir remained in use. In the 1960s the stone retaining wall of the lower/eastern basin was largely removed and the basin filled in for ball fields. The upper/western basin was made deeper to increase its capacity to 80,000,000 gallons. The reservoir was used until 1965 when it was covered with a shallow 3/4 acre reflecting pool.
GPS Location: 39º06'42.6"N 84º29'31.9"W

[@darrinphelps9920]

I grew up in Walnut Hills and spent countless hours enjoying the time I spent there with family and friends. This video brings back amazing memories. Thanks for the history lesson and the video!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're welcome!

[@firebirdstark]

Same here, I saw the thumbnail and got excited cuz I I have been all over that park and wall

[@grumpygeorge]

Fun fact, the pump station was used as the fire department dispatch center for a number of years after the station was closed. The fire department referred to it as “the fire tower”. They still say “call the tower” in the fire house when referring to calling dispatch on the land line. About ten years ago some very cool relief art of fire department scenes were removed from the building by the firefighters Union and remain in storage while a place to put them on display is figured out.

[@alanbryant8457]

I live across the Ohio River in Ky. Many times I cut through Eden Park as a short cut going home. The view overlooking the Ohio River and the landscaping is beautiful. I strongly suggest anybody visit Eden Park if you're in Cincinnati.

[@michaelgarrity6090]

I had known about the reservoir but didn't know it was that big. Thanks for doing this video. It's always amazes me at the scale of construction works done in the past that there is barely any signs left of their existence today.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're welcome!

[@peteypete9240]

I been living in Cincinnati for all my 31 years and just learning this… cool

[@paulcerrezin2498]

Lived here almost my whole life and never knew this!

[@colleentipon2187]

My great grandfather helped design Eden park...August Sundebruch. Very proud to know. His brothers owned a lot of property in the University area and Burnette Woods location also.

[@leonhoward8323]

I was born and raised in that neighborhood. The best time I had in my life.

[@gregthompson5106]

In October of 2016, I lined the railing of the remaining part of this retaining wall with lights and placed a single rose on the end where we used to picnic and asked my girlfriend to marry me. This spot has always been really cool to me, glad to see someone make a video about it. Incredible history.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you had such a beautiful sport for your proposal.

[@grumblyone3334]

Pretty cool. I remember back in the 80's, the Post got a shot of a buddy & I pulling each other across Mirror Lake on a sled for their front page. One of those cool things to keep in the memory books for your life. Haven't been down there in a long time though. May have to make a daytrip there again sometime.

[@stevepeanutbutter7368]

Just a beautiful Cincinnati landmark. Growing up in Northern Kentucky it's always been a beautiful place to see

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It is a beautiful place.

[@zenethra3391]

I go to this park nearly every day. So cool to know this history

[@fabulous21206]

I’ve climbed that wall and so have my children and grandchildren

[@srobert7845]

Today rock climbers use it for practice. Great video!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you like thee video!

[@andrafocke1905]

When I was young the shallow pond every winter would freeze and people would ice skate on it.

[@tylerdavis127]

I was JUST looking this up yesterday!

[@Chuck-e7d]

That was really cool. Loved the masonry work on the retaining walls and pump station.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked the video!

[@victorcaldwell2900]

Used to have football practice there. 30 years ago, smh. Boy how time flies

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Isn't it amazing?

[@jimdevilbiss9125]

Here in Frederick Maryland we also have a one time reservoir much smaller and not as ornate inside the city that was covered over and is ballfields to this day.

[@Funsho97]

Wow, you could do a whole other video on just the buildings there, they have such unique architecture and very castle-like features. I can't imagine all the things they would find when the water was drained, suicide victims and cars would be a shock for sure. Great job as always Susie, and pretty as ever!!! Happy New Year!!!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're right! We could do additional videos on the pump station and the standpipe. Plenty of history in that park. Happy New Year!

[@cmoss95]

Lived here all my life...had no clue

[@jetteroheller]

Cool video. Drove through a couple months ago for the first time in many years and I wondered what that building was.

[@MattieSaysRawr]

This is so unique! I didn’t know this

[@sonofsith8111]

I grew up going here often. Awesome place.

[@mikewuerth4218]

I learned how to rappel on that wall, around 1995.

[@anewman1]

Great show!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you like the project!

[@jimsteele3423]

So amazing thank you for the video

[@floydthompson8668]

Can you all please do one on Eggleston Ave. when it was a train track, before 471 was built? Thank you, love this video!

[@claudermiller]

My great great grandparents owned land down there by greyhound and where the canal was among other places. He was acting mayor of Cincinnati around the turn of the century.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Let me see if I can get anyone to fund a video for that type of project.

[@floydthompson8668]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 Thank you so very much!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

@@floydthompson8668 you're welcome.

[@claudermiller]

It would have made an awesome amphitheatre.

[@kimberlyshepherd270]

I know this is an old video but I just came across it. My husband and I live 26 minutes from Eden Park 😮

[@johnswigler6512]

Beautiful video.🇺🇸 Also love the music.🇺🇸

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks John!

[@machinesandthings9641]

Modern architecture is crap. I wish buildings were still beautiful and majestic like that

[@carletoncandis635]

I used to play softball on of those fields

[@Stevelemontrudy]

Fun fact: Famous bootlegger George Remus ran down and killed his wife with his car near the gazebo at Eden Park. While George was in prison, his wife had an affair and the couple took all of his money. George didn't appreciate that so he murdered his wife.

[@ChristopherSterwerf]

What is beneath Mirror Lake? Is it hollow? It looks like there were structures built under the lake. Seems like a lot of work to cover the reservoir.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Good question!!!! I think they still hold water down below.

[@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide]

John Levi thinks it was there 1,000 years ago

[@timdaugherty5921]

Where are the other arches ?

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

They were demolished.

[@brianbooth9136]

Not to far from me . I have a lot of Fond memories

[@Mikearice1]

Now people use the walls for repelling and climbing.

[@donseymour5560]

Ever heard of Mud Flood?

[@emw2278]

we’re thinking the same thing

[@jasonlindsey9946]

Something creepy about reservoirs. Especially the one in the original TV film IT.

[@christinacope562]

Stephen King can make any ordinary thing creepy, I have all his books. Recently been thinking about reading The Stand after seeing it placed in front as you enter B&N.

[@zz377zz]

A very pretty girl, love these videos.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you like the project!

[@rehetbutler]

Not to nit pick but that is not in my backyard! lol

[@JonahGeideman]

😃Wow beautiful• Cincinnati isn't bad either*

[@walkingman636]

Now ask what was actually there that the reservoir is hiding. Study Tartarian buildings and realize what you are looking at.

[@emw2278]

I just visited this place. What do you think this structure was during Tartarian times?

[@markthompson9754]

I had sex in that park! Wait, what is the statute of limitations for public nudity?