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

Sudbury Pipe Arch

Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com Sudbury Pipe Arch Steel Pipe Arch over the Sudbury River While preparing a report on the Weston Aqueduct, which I hope to complete this winter, I had a chance to study the pipe arch spanning the Sudbury River above Saxonville. Curious, as I am always, as to how the builders… Continue reading Sudbury Pipe Arch

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

The Big Roads

Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com The Big Roads   (70,110 & 140)                                                   The Big Roads  There were State highways, county roads, town roads, private roads… all the way down to cow… Continue reading The Big Roads

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 Shortest Road

Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com The Shortest Road The people in Boylston and West Boylston were not happy. In their view the Metropolitan Water Board  had come to take a lot from them without offering much in return. The Water Board  had its mandate, however, and was determined to perform its duties as directed. Boylston… Continue reading The Shortest Road