Author: beforetherewasadam_050rbj

1895 Tour of the Nashua River Valley

Wachusett Dam and Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com Lecture Series An 1895 Tour of the Nashua River Valley via River, Road & Rail A tour of the valley through Boylston and West Boylston, appearing quite bucolic at times, before the coming of the Wachusett Reservoir changed everything. My friends at the Northborough Historical Society expressed an interest in… Continue reading 1895 Tour of the Nashua River Valley

Path of Water Through the Dam

Wachusett Dam and Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com Hidden Hydraulics at the Dam Path of the Water Through the Dam This presentation was given to an audience of engineers (my peers) at the Metropolitan Water Resources Authority in Chelsea, Mass. on April 16, 2026. The Authority wanted introduce the younger engineers to the systems of the Wachusett Dam.… Continue reading Path of Water Through the Dam

Lower Village

Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com West Boylston Old Town Lower VIllage https://vimeo.com/1203120318?fl=tl&fe=ec Lecture given at the Beaman Library in West Boylston June 17, 2026 ………………………………………………………………………. The Lower Village In West Boylston in 1896 a thriving commercial center was located on the major crossroads of Prospect Street and East Main Street.  This busy hub held the… Continue reading Lower Village

The Underwater Railroad

Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com The Underwater Railroad https://vimeo.com/1167050962?fl=tl&fe=ec In 1895 it was determined that the portion of the B&M Rail Road Central Mass. Division that ran through the Nashua River Valley from West  Berlin to Oakdale was to be relocated around the proposed Wachusett Reservoir. After this was accomplished in 1903, drawings and details… Continue reading The Underwater Railroad

Wachusett Aqueduct Maximum Flow Test

Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com beforetherewasadam.comWachusett Reservoir Maximum Flow Test Wachusett Aqueduct Maximum Flow Test Recent extensive pipe and valve replacement at the Lower Gate House (powerhouse) at the Wachusett Dam necessitated the complete shutdown of the Wachusett Aqueduct for almost two years. That work was completed and the Wachusett Aqueduct reactivated as a standby… Continue reading Wachusett Aqueduct Maximum Flow Test

French Hill

Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com West  Boylston Old Town French Hill https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1155618216 “French Hill”, recorded at the Beaman Public Library, January 15, 2026     French Hill as it looks today French Hill as it appeared before the Reservoir was built Part II     French Hill   Nashua River Valley The Nashua River Valley was… Continue reading French Hill

Central Village

Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com West Boylston Old Town Central Village Central Village as it looks today Central Village as it might have looked before the Reservoir was built Part I in this series addresses the Central Village, a thriving community of town government, schools and businesses located in the large flat area between the… Continue reading Central Village

West Boylston Old Town

Wachusett Dam & Reservoir beforetherewasadam.com West Boylston Old Town West Boylston 1891                     OH Bailey Over 90% if the homes and buildings seen in the lower half of the drawing would be demolished to make way for the Wachusett Reservoir We tend to think of West Boylston… Continue reading West Boylston Old Town

Flume – Gatehouse

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