The
Sunol Water Temple is currently owned by the San Francisco Water District,
and is located near to the proposed quarry project. It has long been one
of California's most beloved architectural monuments. The Water Temple was
designed in 1910 by famed San Francisco architect Willis Polk, who always
considered it his masterpiece. It was built for the Spring Valley Water
Company as a beautiful design intended to enhance the dignity of the water
company as a public utility service provider. In it, all the waters from
the Alameda source of the Spring Valley Water Company -- sources that represent
control of six hundred square miles of watershed -- meet and mingle before
their long journey to San Francisco. The waters from artesian wells at Pleasanton,
from the Calaveras Reservoir and from the natural filter-beds of gravel
that underlie Sunol Valley form a magnificent cascade, dropping some forty
feet into the conduit that routes them along Niles Canyon and under the
bay to San Francisco. At one time, half of San Francisco's water supply
flowed through the water temple every day and it was a favored tourist destination.
The Temple was proudly maintained by the Spring Valley Water Company and by San Francisco when it bought the company in 1930. Several years ago, the San Francisco Water District removed the roof of the temple and made the site inaccessible to the public. Now exposed to the weather, the columns are cracking and the once-immaculate well, through which 15% of the city's water still passes, has become badly deteriorated. The apparent intention is to let it fall into such a state of disrepair that it will have to be torn down.
The deteriorating condition of the Temple became a major concern to Save Our Sunol members and persons from other communities who remembered weddings and picnics at the beautiful Water Temple and its lovely surroundings. It became obvious to us that something had to be done to preserve and restore it. because then President of the PUC, Marion Otsea, said there was no money available for repairs.
We invited Greg Lyons and his cameraman from Ch 4 KRON TV to visit Sunol and record the sorry condition of the Temple and our desperate efforts to save it. His depiction of the Temple's state of disrepair was noted by television viewers who registered complaints with some of the San Francisco Supervisors and Public Utilities Commissioners.
In 1996, under the leadership of the new PUC President , Dennis Normandy, a study was conducted to determine the needed changes for the Water Temple's restoration. The Commission voted to completely restore our historical Water Temple.
A Water Temple Restoration Celebration was presented by The PUC on September 27, 1997 at the Temple to announce the beginning of the process. Hundreds of people from Sunol, San Francisco and other Bay Area communities as well as local elected officials attended the gala event.
Our members also presented a fundraiser at Elliston Winery here in Sunol in April 1998. All proceeds from this well attended dinner and silent auction will be used for recreating the picnic area directly behind the Temple.
The Sunol Water Temple Restoration has now been started under the able supervision of Lena Chen, Project Manager. The tiles and panels are being carefully restored at the Oakland Art Museum warehouse. We are looking forward to a completion of the entire restoration, including the landscaping of adjacent lands by the year 2000.
In addition to the photographs below, Lena Chen has invited Sunolians to visit the museum where we saw the restoration in progress. Click here to see the tiles and panels up close.
If you are interested in more information about Willis Polk and his works, visit www.willispolk.com.
Click on any of the pictures for a larger image
 The
San Francisco Public Utility Commission renovation plans. |
 The
water temple just prior to the current renovation work. |
 The
temple roof in now undergoing renovation. For close-up pictures of
the roof decorations, click here. |
 In
the spring of 2000, the roof will be placed back on the temple. |
 The
gates to the water temple will once again be open to the public. |
 |
| Remarks by Speakers at the Sunol Water Temple Restoration Celebration, September 27, 1997: | |