The OES visited the Griggs Reservoir Dam-Tender House on June 29, 2003. The house sat in the middle of a large park/beach area at the Griggs Reservoir. The dam and the house were built in 1908 after 195 people, including Ohio Senator Mark Hanna, died in 1904 as a result of typhoid from the bad drinking water. The house was built for the dam tender (keeper) and his family to live in. The dam tender was responsible for opening the valves for water to flow into the treatment plant. After technology took over the work of the dam tender, the house sat empty. Some people believe the home is an eyesore, others think that the house should be preserved. Vandals, of course, have had their toll on the place, along with weather and other circumstances. The City of Columbus has actually stepped in and is contributing $250,000 for a new roof, a security system, and a new furnace. They hope to turn the old dam-tender's house into a meeting house. The renovation was set to take place in the Spring of 2004.