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Fieldman Management Systems, a leading provider of SaaS software for Asset & Work management, is taking a creative approach to honor the history of American public works infrastructure. Recognizing that many public work accomplishments go unnoticed and underappreciated, Fieldman has embarked on a mission to shed light on the remarkable achievements of engineers throughout history.
Anna Lyudkovskaya, the Marketing Director at Fieldman, highlights the importance of recognizing these achievements. "Public work accomplishments were not widely celebrated, and public access to clear, clean water, light and power, as well as roads and highways, are often taken for granted not only by American citizens but also by public work professionals," says Lyudkovskaya.
"There are so many incredible achievements and stories that, unfortunately, professionals in utilities and local government don't know much about. Fieldman's mission is to provide the best software platform that allows utilities and municipalities to work more efficiently, and we see that storytelling about best ideas in this field can be part of this mission. We want the American Public Works community to know those stories."
The significance of public works infrastructure in the United States dates back even before the country's independence. Native Americans created trails for hunting and trading, while the first American settlers relied on public facilities to survive in an unfamiliar and challenging environment. Harbors were crucial for maintaining contact with families, friends, and business partners back home. As settlers moved inland, they established overland transportation routes, all made possible through robust public works programs.
The idea to create a series of stories arose when the Fieldman marketing team discovered the fascinating tale of Rembrandt Peale. In just four days, Peale convinced Baltimore's city leaders to invest in the first gas street lighting. Peale, an artist and scientist, sought to attract more visitors to his Baltimore Museum of Arts and Sciences by illuminating his exhibits with carbureted hydrogen gas in 1816. Demonstrating the effectiveness of gas lighting, Peale secured a contract to gaslight the entire city.
"Imagine how open-minded and brave Baltimore's government executives were and how eager they were to implement new ideas," says Lyudkovskaya. Peale's efforts led to the establishment of the Gas and Light Company of Baltimore, the first gas utility in North America. Although gas lights have since been replaced by electric lights, Exelon acquired the Gas and Light Company of Baltimore years ago, ensuring that the spirit of Peale's innovation lives on. Notably, Peale was not only a scientist but also a talented portrait painter, with his works now on display at the National Gallery of Art.
This inspiring story of Rembrandt Peale is just one of many that Fieldman plans to share. The company intends to publish a new story every Friday on its LinkedIn and Instagram accounts. Fieldman has collaborated with artists and graphic designers to create a captivating comic series, complemented by written text detailing each achievement or inventor.
Fieldman hopes that this initiative will raise awareness of the rich history of public works in the United States. By celebrating the ingenious ideas and remarkable achievements of engineers, the company aims to inspire and educate the public works community while fostering a deeper appreciation for the infrastructure that forms the backbone of society. Through their software platform and now the power of storytelling, Fieldman continues to drive innovation and efficiency in the realm of public works.
For cartoons and stories, follow hashtag #fieldmancelebratespublicworks or visit our LinkedIn Page
Let's thank RembrandtPeale for the bright lights 💡 in cities at night. In 1817, Baltimore became the first American city to have streetlights powered by gas, thanks to Peale's passion.
Peale owned a Baltimore Museum of Arts andSciences, and to attract more visitors started lighting his exhibits with carbureted hydrogen gas in 1816. Pretty soon, Baltimore's city leaders and investors caught on to the idea of using gas to light up the streets. Peale demonstrated the gas streetlight system to them, and just four days later 😮, they signed a contract 🚀 to provide light to the whole city.
This led to the launch of the Gas and Light Company of Baltimore - the first gas utility in North America! Although gaslights were eventually replaced by electric lights, Exelon acquired the Gas and Light Company of Baltimore years ago, but the light is still here.
Peale wasn't just a scientist, he was also a talented portrait painter whose works are now on display at the National Gallery of Art!
Did you know that most of the early American sewers were built with private capital? It wasn't until 1704 that Bostonian Francis Thrasher was given permission by the city government to construct a sewer which was "not only benefit by freeing the street from the usual annoyance... but a more particular benefit to ye neighborhood as a common shore [sewer]." All city residents were ordered to connect their drains to the public sewer. 😱😱😱
By the mid-eighteenth century, few cities of the world were drained as well as City of Boston. 🙌 🚀 It took other American cities decades to follow Boston's advanced and revolutionary approach.
These sand filters were used in the 19th century for water purification, which was a revolutionary concept at the time. The idea of using sand to clean water originated in 9th-century Venice. Fast forward to 1827 when the English engineer James Simpson designed the first efficient sand filter. 🚰 💧💧
Just six years later, public workers in Richmond, VA attempted to build the first American water pumping station using this new technology, but unfortunately, it failed. However, this setback didn't stop other cities from installing sand filters over the next few decades. Cities like Boston, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia followed Richmond and used sand filters.
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