Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com Flume – Gatehouse The Gatehouse I had occasion recently to speak at the New England Water Works Association Spring Joint Regional Conference & Exhibition and, in the time allotted, opted to talk about the flume that was constructed to safely control the Nashua River during the construction of the dam.… Continue reading Flume – Gatehouse
Author: beforetherewasadam_050rbj
Wachusett Dam – Site Preparation
Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com Site Preparation In 1895 it was understood that excavation for the dam, down to bedrock, would result in a huge hole but few realized that it would take five long years to complete the preparatory work before the digging could be started. Major obstacles to be overcome, as addressed in… Continue reading Wachusett Dam – Site Preparation
St. Luke’s Catholic Cemetery
Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com St. Luke’s Catholic Cemetery St. Luke’s Cemetery Gate , West Boylston Cemeteries within the proposed watershed area of the new reservoir, especially those which would be submerged, posed problems for the Metropolitan Water Board. St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Clinton and the Beaman Cemetery in West Boylston were two well… Continue reading St. Luke’s Catholic Cemetery
Rip Rap
Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com Rip Rap Rip rap at the South Dike Many have been asking what Rip Rap is exactly. I put this article together to help explain its use at the North Dike, where it came from and how it was moved there. Rip Rap is a collection of heavy stones placed… Continue reading Rip Rap
South Main Street
Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com South Main Street 1896 Here is a little entertainment for my old classmates who grew up on South Main Street and should recognize much of what is presented below. I hope you like it…and don’t forget to become a subscriber to receive future articles. Thanks, Paul https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/638917265 Marquee… Menu… Post… Continue reading South Main Street
Short Stories by Mary A. Cook
Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com Short Stories by Mary A. Cook Short Stories by Mary A. Cook Mary E. Cook arrived in West Boylston from New York City around1895. A keen observer of daily community life, from marriages, death notices, social functions, she collected every possible bit of news that could be found on her… Continue reading Short Stories by Mary A. Cook
Myths, Mysteries & Curiosites 3
Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com Myths, Mysteries & Curiosities 3 These stories were taken from the writings of Mary E. Cook, daily contributor to the Worcester newspapers, submitted during the Wachusett Dam & Reservoir construction period. Rather than the typically dry engineering reports of the Metropolitan Board they offer impressions of the events in a… Continue reading Myths, Mysteries & Curiosites 3
DeMarzio & Gietullio
Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com DeMarzio & Gietulio Recently I was given access by the Beaman Public Library in West Boylston to its carefully preserved archive of the writings of local resident Mary A. Cook dating from 1895 through 1928. Her daily submittals to the Worcester Daily Telegram often included valuable insights into the activities… Continue reading DeMarzio & Gietullio
The North Dike
The Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com The North Dike It’s big all right…over two miles long in all. It contains the topsoil that was painstakingly stripped by hand from over 7 square mile of farmland…nearly six million cubic yards, a volume twice that of the Great Pyramid. It would be, in 1895, a world class… Continue reading The North Dike
New England Water Works Award
The Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com New England Water Works Association The New England Water Works Association generously awarded its endorsement and this Distinguished Public Involvement Award to this site in recognition of efforts to educate the general public about the intricacies of the Wachusett Dam and Reservoir Project. My thanks to the readers and… Continue reading New England Water Works Award