Hermann Schussler


Hermann Schüssler or Schussler was a German water-systems engineer and architect of dams famous for designing the Comstock water system.

Early years

Hermann Schussler was born in what is today Rastede, Germany. From 1859 to 1862 he visited the Prussian Military Academy of Oldenburg. After his graduation he studied civil engineering in Zürich and Karlsruhe.

Engineer in USA

In 1864 Hermann Schussler immigrated to California, and started working for the Spring Valley Water Works of San Francisco. He worked on several projects in the Bay Area. Remarkable projects are the dams at Crystal Springs Reservoir and San Andreas Lake which survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Schussler became chief engineer of Marin County, and later of Virginia City. In Virginia City, Schussler worked for Virginia City and Gold Hill Water Company and build the Comstock water system. He also worked for the Sutro Tunnel Company and designed the water system for Tuscarora and Pioche. In 1878 Schussler worked on several water projects in Hawaii. He retired in 1914.