In the 1880s, when the Pacetti Hotel was constructed, Ponce Park was a remote location. Just like at the Mosquito Inlet Lighthouse, the Pacettis collected rainwater via a system of gutters, downspouts, and cisterns. The Pacetti Hotel has a total of three cisterns to collect rainwater, one of which was constructed using similar materials and designs as the cisterns at the Mosquito Inlet Lighthouse. Another one of the cisterns was hidden beneath the water tower building and was only discovered by our staff during the restoration and rehabilitation of the site in 2023.
Cistern 1 is on the west side of the building and is the oldest, dating to at least 1884 and possibly as early as 1881. This cistern is concrete which was made with beach sand and coquina and is topped by a thick cement slab, rectangular in shape. The cistern itself is shaped like a giant bowl. Prior to restoration in 2023, the interior was penetrated by roots and mud. This cistern may have been built from the base up. The base may have been poured in, allowed to dry, and then the walls were coated with cement. The cistern was restored in 2023 and is now water-tight and maintained by museum staff.
Cistern 2 is at the north end of the building near the kitchen entrance. This cistern is round, painted green, and sticks out about 6 inches off the ground. The cistern depth is about 6 feet. Its construction is different from Cistern 1 in that its walls are made of both concrete and brick, similar to the bricks used at the Mosquito Inlet Lighthouse next door. This cistern was also constructed in place, and has held up better than Cistern 1. Cracks along the top were patched during restoration in 2023, and roots that had intruded were removed at that time as well.
Cistern 3 is underneath the water tower building on the north side of the building. This cistern overflows into Cistern 2 through underground pipes. It is unclear when this cistern was built, but the water tower building on top of it is believed to have been constructed in the 1930s. It is made of concrete and coquina, similar to Cistern 1, but appears to be more robust. It too was restored during the restoration of the site in 2023.
