Bethlehem’s industrial museum lands first artifact: Butz companies continuing to take a dominate role in regional construction marketplace

Workers lower the Corliss Engine, a 115-ton engine into the foundation of the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem. (Contributed Photo)

The National Museum of Industrial History installed its first artifact Tuesday when workers lowered The Corliss Engine, a 115-ton engine into the foundation at the museum in Bethlehem.

Built in 1914, the engine pumped the water supply for the entire city of York, according to a news release.

The Corliss Engine pumped eight million gallons of water per day for the York Water Co. and ran daily until 1956, providing standby service until 1982. The engine used steam through a cross compounding system and ran 24 hours a day, year round.

Alvin H. Butz, Inc. of Allentown is the construction manager for the project.

The museum, which has been planned since 1998, has raised about $6 million in commitments and cash for the project’s third and fourth parts, which are expected to cost $6.5 million for all of the fit-out and interior construction.

The nonprofit board that operates the museum is looking to display American industrial artifacts, including equipment from the heyday of Bethlehem Steel. The museum is on East Second Street, not far from Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and SteelStacks at ArtsQuest.

Source: LVB.com