While visiting the Plumbing Museum, Watertown, Mass., this past week, Mechanical Hub learned about the museum’s newest, working rainwater harvesting exhibit coming soon. “We have a lot of local vo-tech students come through here and they definitely will be interested in the new display. This will be another educational opportunity offered by the Plumbing Museum,” Read more
PHCC
Inside the Plumbing Museum, rainwater harvest system on display
While visiting the Plumbing Museum, Watertown, Mass., this past week, Mechanical Hub learned about the museum’s newest, working rainwater harvesting exhibit coming soon. “We have a lot of local vo-tech students come through here and they definitely will be interested in the new display. This will be another educational opportunity offered by the Plumbing Museum,” says Linda Veiking, event coordinator.
Concurrently, the Plumbing Museum Board of Directors held its annual meeting to discuss new opportunities and projects, one of which is the water reclamationsystem display, which is in collaboration with the Artists for Humanity.
The Plumbing Museum opened in Worcester, MA in 1979. The Manoog family hosted the Plumbing Museum until 2008. Mr. Manoog’s father, Charles, began collecting antique commodes, claw-foot tubs, ornate sinks and other plumbing items beginning in the 1950s. A museum for these items was established by son Russell in 1979. In its Worcester location, the American Sanitary Plumbing Museum had hosted curious visitors.
Mark Perrone (J.C. Cannistraro, Inc.) and Linda Veiking, event coordinator.
In 2007, J.C. Cannistraro was presented with a unique opportunity. Through the company’s association with the Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors (PHCC) of Greater Boston, word had traveled that Russell and BJ Manoog, curators of the American Sanitary & Plumbing Museum in Worcester, were looking for someone to continue operation of the museum after their retirement.
The building that is now home to The Plumbing Museum was once the property of brothers Abraham and Edward Howard who supplied their thriving Watertown, Massachusetts ice business with ice, wood and coal from their Charles River storage yard and ice house. The brothers’ father, skilled merchant and Civil War veteran Frederick Howard, started in the ice trade in 1842. Following in their father’s footsteps, the brothers grew the business and it became the Metropolitan Ice Company around 1925. With progress in home heating and refrigeration the ice trade became obsolete. The property surrounding the ice house was sold, and industrial growth changed the landscape.
In 1984, J.C. Cannistraro, Inc., under the direction of John Cannistraro, Sr., purchased the ice house from the Jac-Pac Company, a frozen meat distributor, and relocated his company from a small garage on Pleasant Street in Watertown. During the next twenty years, numerous additions and developments were made resulting in the large complex that is now the J.C. Cannistraro, LLC corporate offices and prefabrication facility.
Piping sculpture outside the museum.
RIDGID® has awarded four scholarships through the Educational Foundation of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors – National Association (PHCC) to students enrolled in plumbing-heating-cooling apprentice programs. PHCC administers the scholarship program, which is designed to attract new talent essential to the future of the plumbing and HVACR industry, and is also responsible for selecting the award winners Read more
RIDGID® has awarded four scholarships through the Educational Foundation of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors – National Association (PHCC) to students enrolled in plumbing-heating-cooling apprentice programs. PHCC administers the scholarship program, which is designed to attract new talent essential to the future of the plumbing and HVACR industry, and is also responsible for selecting the award winners. Scholarship recipients will receive up to $1,000 in tuition assistance and $1,500 in RIDGID tools. RIDGID has proudly supported this scholarship program since 2011.
“Contractors are desperately seeking skilled workers to hire,” said Christopher Burton, global director of brand management for RIDGID. “These scholarships help to get skilled workers trained and prepared, with quality tools in hand, to fill those open positions in our industry.”
The 2015 scholarship recipients are:
- Brian Cates of Sacramento, Calif. is working for PHCC member Calidad Plumbing in Folsom and is enrolled as a plumbing apprentice at the PHCC GSA Apprentice Program.
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Andrew Kappelmeier of Landenberg, Pa. is pursuing a degree in HVAC Technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology.
- Gary Quintana of El Cajon, Calif. is working for PHCC member Drum Plumbing in San Diego and is enrolled as a plumbing apprentice at the PHCC Academy of San Diego.
- Brandon Ramos, Jr. of Spring Valley, CA is working for PHCC member BP Plumbing in San Diego and is enrolled as a plumbing apprentice at the PHCC Academy of San Diego.
For additional information about RIDGID, please visit www.RIDGID.com, call toll-free: 1-800-769-7743, or contact RIDGID, 400 Clark St., Elyria, Ohio 44035 U.S.A.
About PHCC Educational Foundation®
PHCC Educational Foundation, a partnership of contractors, manufacturers, and wholesalers, was founded in 1987. Its purpose is to serve the plumbing-heating-cooling industry by providing educational tools and preparing contractors and their employees to meet the challenges of a constantly changing marketplace. For more information contact a member of the Foundation staff at (800) 533-7694 or visit phccfoundation.org.
About RIDGID®
RIDGID®, a business unit of Emerson®, headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer of innovative tools and equipment for the professional trades. The company’s broad offering of more than 300 types of tools serves the demanding needs of customers in the commercial, industrial and energy markets in over 140 countries. For more information, visit RIDGID.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other popular social media sites.
Falls Church, Va. — Excitement is building for the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s National Plumbing and HVAC Apprentice Contests Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2015, in Hollywood, Fla.! With a few opportunities remaining for contestant and sponsor participation, it’s not too late to be a part of these crowd-attracting events that culminate on the tradeshow Read more
Falls Church, Va. — Excitement is building for the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s National Plumbing and HVAC Apprentice Contests Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2015, in Hollywood, Fla.! With a few opportunities remaining for contestant and sponsor participation, it’s not too late to be a part of these crowd-attracting events that culminate on the tradeshow floor.
The plumbing contest features 20 elite apprentices who will rough-in a complete bathroom including cast iron and PVC DWV, copper water supply, and installation of a shower valve, water closet and lavatory with faucet.
The HVAC contest features the nation’s top 15 HVAC apprentices in a six-event competition that includes brazing, refrigerant recovery and identification, taking readings on a working package unit, electrical troubleshooting and repair, basic electrical skills and wiring, and a written knowledge test.
In addition to the competition, all contestants have the opportunity to attend special educational seminars at CONNECT, complete with peer-to-peer networking and exposure to the latest technologies and products available.
A Few Contestant Spots Remain for HVAC Apprentices
Do you consider one of your HVAC apprentices among the nation’s best? Give them an opportunity to take home top honors – plus valuable tools and prizes! – at this year’s HVAC Apprentice Contest, which takes place both Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at CONNECT 2015!
It’s a win-win-win for you, your apprentice, and the industry, as the contest provides an excellent opportunity to generate awareness for local apprenticeship programs and HVAC companies, as well as boosts interest in the HVAC field and helps attract new recruits to the industry.
Additional Sponsors Needed for HVAC Contest
Sponsors are needed to help our HVAC apprentices participate in the contest. Contestant sponsors’ contributions are passed on to offset the expenses the competitors incur to travel to the contest. Competitors wear their sponsor’s logoed shirt at the contest, and sponsors receive recognition on-site, in event communications, and in post-contest communications. Prize sponsors are also welcome for both the plumbing and HVAC contests.
Sponsorship information and contestant applications are available at http://www.phccweb.org/EducationEvents/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2633&navItemNumber=14027.
2015 event sponsors include:
Headline Sponsors: AHRI; A. O. Smith Water Products Co.; Channellock; Coburn Supply Co.; Copper Development Association, Inc.; Delta Faucet Company; IPS Corporation; Uponor; Viega, LLC; and Zoeller Pump Company.
Contestant Sponsors: AB&I Foundry; AC Pro; BrassCraft Manufacturing Co.; Cengage Learning; KOHLER Company; Legend Valve; MILWAUKEE TOOL; NATE; NIBCO, Inc.; Reed Manufacturing Co.; RIDGID; SharkBite/Cash Acme, Reliance Worldwide Corporation; State Water Heaters; and Tyler Pipe & Coupling.
For more information, contact Merry Beth Hall at hall@naphcc.org, or (800)533-7694.