Historic Road Construction Projects

Black and white images depicting various road construction projects and improvements in Massachusetts during the 1930s and 1940s. Scenes include workers, machinery, and roadway views.

Contract No. 44, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, New Salem, Orange, looking ahead from Sta. 1040+00, before blasting, New Salem, Mass., Jan. 16, 1934

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, Woodland Road, looking westerly from manhole 20B, Holden Sewer Line, Holden, Mass., May 9, 1940

Contract No. 106, Improvement of Access Roads, Middle and East Branch Regulating Dams, and Quabbin Reservoir Area, Hardwick, Petersham, New Salem, Belchertown, looking back towards Sta. 130+, East Branch access road, Belchertown, Mass., Jul. 15, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 133+00, Ware, Mass., May 8, 1939

Contract No. 44, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, New Salem, Orange, looking back from near Sta. 1042+50 showing mat blasting to sub resistance on right, New Salem, Mass., Jan. 19, 1934

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, side drain, looking back from Sta. 212+25, Ware, Mass., Jun. 22, 1939

Contract No. 130, Grading, Loaming, and Grassing Vicinity of Shaft 4, Pressure Aqueduct, Southborough, and Improvement of Access Roads to the Intake Works and at Norumbega Reservoir, Marlborough, Southborough, Weston, looking westerly showing spoil pile and general operations, headhouse at Shaft 4, Southborough, Mass., May 6, 1941

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking easterly on Woodland Road from Sta. 46+50, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Mar. 26, 1940

Contract No. 44, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, New Salem, Orange, looking ahead from Sta. 1040+00, before blasting, New Salem, Mass., Jan. 16, 1934

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, Olive F. Thornton driveway, looking northwest from Glen Road, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Aug. 1, 1939

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, Maple Avenue, looking northerly from opposite Sta. 12+25, Rutland Sewer Line, Rutland, Mass., May 9, 1940

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, spoil on south side of lower intake channel at Shaft 12, looking west, Hardwick, Mass., May 20, 1936

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back from Sta. 213, Ware, Mass., Apr. 12, 1939

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking north at area north of Shaft 11A, Hardwick, Mass., Aug. 26, 1936

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, looking ahead from near manhole 3-C, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Jun. 6, 1940

Prince River, looking south opposite Trefilio property, drainage area - 12.9 square miles, flow - 140 cubic feet per second - 10.8 cubic feet per second per square mile, Worcester County, Mass., 12:05 PM, Apr. 13, 1934 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events

Wachusett Department, Wachusett Watershed, Gates Brook Improvement, east from Electric Avenue down west branch (compare with No. 7250), West Boylston, Mass., Oct. 26, 1916 , waterworks, brooks, drainage, watershed sanitary improvement

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, Phillips Road, looking westerly from manhole 16B, Holden Sewer Line, Holden, Mass., May 9, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back at ledge from Sta. 87+00, Ware, Mass., Jul. 21, 1939

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking southerly on Woodland Road from manhole 20-B, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., May 28, 1940

Contract No. 60, Access Roads to Shaft 12, Quabbin Aqueduct, Hardwick and Greenwich, looking ahead (northerly) from Sta. 9+70, Greenwich and Hardwick, Mass., Apr. 5, 1938

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 29+50, Ware, Mass., Jul. 17, 1939

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, Bascom Parkway, looking ahead from near intersection with Highland Street, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Dec. 19, 1940

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking easterly at area north of Shaft 11A, Hardwick, Mass., Aug. 26, 1936

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, Edson Avenue, looking back from manhole 2D, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Jul. 23, 1940

Southworth lot, cleared winter of 1933, Greenwich, Mass., Aug. 15, 1934 : Parcel no. 309-38, formerly Charles D. Wheeler property , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, real estate, Clearing of land

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking east from Sta. 82+/- dam 4 showing traffic circle on north side of dam 4, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., May 20, 1940

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking easterly on Woodland Road from manhole 22-B, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., May 28, 1940

New England Power transmission line, clearing on Mary L. Haskell property, cleared winter of 1933-1934, Belchertown, Mass., Aug. 15, 1934 : Parcel no. 247-12, Stephen Baraniuk , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, real estate, Clearing of land

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking east from Sta. 42 on access road showing paving at spillway dam 1, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Jan. 5, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking west from Sta. 74+00, showing condition of dam 4, placing of riprap, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., May 29, 1940

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking northerly along Phillips Road from junction with Boyden Road, Sta. 27+50, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Dec. 28, 1939

Barre Wool Combing Co., pool at lagoon outlet, Barre, Mass., 2:15 PM, May 22, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking ahead from opposite Sta. 56+00 Highland Street, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Oct. 25, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 201+20 at dike road intersection, Ware, Mass., Apr. 12, 1939

Contract No. 56, Administration Buildings, Main Dam, Belchertown, looking easterly from near west garage, Belchertown, Mass., Sep. 29, 1938

Ware River, Otis Co. mill pond, 2 miles above dam from South Shore, drainage area - 168 square miles, flow 1750 cubic feet per second - 10.4 cubic feet per second per square mile, 9:00 AM, Ware, Mass., Apr. 5, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, mill ponds, floods natural events

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back from Sta. 182+80, Ware, Mass., Apr. 12, 1939

Contract No. 66, Regulating Dams, Middle Branch (New Salem), and East Branch of the Swift River, Hardwick and Petersham (formerly Dana), looking northwesterly at Access Road from near Sta. 11+70, east branch regulating dam, Hardwick, Mass., Jun. 5, 1939

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, looking back towards manhole 6C, Rutland Sewer Line, Rutland, Mass., Jun. 21, 1940

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking southwesterly on Highland Street from near manhole 8A, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Jun. 6, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 102+00, Ware, Mass., Jun. 15, 1939

Lagoon at Barre Wool Combing Co., Barre, Mass., Mar. 14, 1934 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, Maple Avenue, looking northerly from opposite Sta. 22+45, Rutland Sewer Line, Rutland, Mass., May 9, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, loamed slope, looking back from Sta. 116+50, Ware, Mass., Apr. 11, 1940

Logging: Transportation: Log Drive - New Hampshire. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History

Barre Wool Combing Co., pool at lagoon outlet, Barre, Mass., 2:20 PM, May 24, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, Maple Avenue, looking back from 19+25, Rutland Sewer Line, Rutland, Mass., Jul. 9, 1940

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, Bancroft Road, looking southerly from manhole 9B across Main Street, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Dec. 28, 1939

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 127+10, Ware, Mass., May 25, 1939

Barre Wool Combing Co., pool at lagoon outlet, Barre, Mass., 9:55 AM, May 28, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Barre Wool Combing Co. Ltd., showing rubbish being cleared away from lagoon, Barre, Mass., 1:20 PM, May 15, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking westerly on Phillips Road from intersection with Woodland Road, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Mar. 26, 1940

Barre Wool Combing Co., weir box at outlet of final settling tanks, Barre, Mass., 2:55 PM, May 22, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, factories structures, settling tanks

Chicopee River, Three Rivers hydroelectric station, hand on rail indicates high water mark, Palmer, Mass., 11:10 AM, Oct. 1, 1938 , New England Hurricane, 1938, waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures, hydroelectric power plants, people agents

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, looking ahead from opposite Sta. 19+25, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Jul. 23, 1940

Contract No. 93, Completion of East Branch Baffle, Petersham (formerly in the Town of Greenwich), and Hardwick, looking northerly at east branch baffle from Shaft 12 road, Hardwick, Mass., Jan. 10, 1940

Contract No. 106, Improvement of Access Roads, Middle and East Branch Regulating Dams, and Quabbin Reservoir Area, Hardwick, Petersham, New Salem, Belchertown, looking back from Sta. 201+00, access road to East Branch Regulating Dam, Belchertown, Mass., Jun. 5, 1940

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking easterly on Phillips Road from manhole 16B-3, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., May 28, 1940

Contract No. 39, Trunk Line Sewer, Rutland, Holden, fill and roadway crossing at Quinapoxet pipe, looking northerly, Rutland-Holden Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Sep. 6, 1934

Contract No. 60, Access Roads to Shaft 12, Quabbin Aqueduct, Hardwick and Greenwich, looking back (west) from Sta. 64+25, Greenwich and Hardwick, Mass., Apr. 5, 1938

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking southerly on Highland Street from manhole 22-B, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., May 28, 1940

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking back from manhole 2A-2, Laurelwood Road Connection, Holden Sewer Line, Holden, Mass., Jul. 9, 1940

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, looking ahead from manhole 6, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Jul. 23, 1940

Guy L. Marvell, pond, Dana, Mass., Sep. 11, 1939 : Parcel no. 433-43 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, real estate, residential structures, chicken houses

Contract No. 66, Regulating Dams, Middle Branch (New Salem), and East Branch of the Swift River, Hardwick and Petersham (formerly Dana), looking westerly at dam 5 from Sta. 28+75, middle branch regulating dam, Hardwick, Mass., Jun. 7, 1939

Dam at Shaft #1, West Boylston, Mass., Feb. 5, 1935 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, dams hydraulic structures, engineering

Barre Wool Combing Co. Ltd., showing rubbish dumped near Powder Mill dam, Barre, Mass., 2:10 PM, May 15, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back from Sta.128+08, Ware, Mass., Apr. 25, 1939

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking northerly on Woodland Road from Sta. 35+50, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., May 28, 1940

Ware River, Ware Mills, Otis Co. dam, Ware, Mass., 3:40 PM, Mar. 12, 1936 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking ahead from manhole 4A-4, Holden Sewer Line, Holden, Mass., Jun. 21, 1940

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, intake channel at Shaft 12, looking westerly, Hardwick, Mass., Dec. 19, 1935

Chicopee River, dam at Collins Manufacturing Co., drainage area - 680 square miles, Wilbraham, Mass., 3:10 PM, Sep. 18, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Barre Wool Combing Co., showing pool formed after longer pipe was installed at lagoon outlet, Barre, Mass., 10:10 AM, May 20, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Contract No. 51, East Branch Baffle, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Greenwich, Hardwick, looking northerly at east branch baffle from near highway intersection, Hardwick, Mass., Dec. 21, 1936

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, Maple Avenue, looking ahead towards Sta. 23+50, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Aug. 21, 1940

Contract No. 130, Grading, Loaming, and Grassing Vicinity of Shaft 4, Pressure Aqueduct, Southborough, and Improvement of Access Roads to the Intake Works and at Norumbega Reservoir, Marlborough, Southborough, Weston, looking southerly showing finished grading of area south of engineer's office, headhouse at Shaft 4, Southborough, Mass., May 22, 1941

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking east at area north of Shaft 11A, Hardwick, Mass., Aug. 26, 1936

Clarence A. Moore, Swift River Garage, Greenwich, Mass., Sep. 27, 1937 : Parcel no. 351-21, Clarence A. Moore , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, real estate, service stations

Contract No. 85, Manufacture and Delivery of Precast Concrete Steel Cylinder Pipe, Southborough, Framingham, Wayland, Natick, Weston, looking towards Speen Street from the Lock Joint Pipe Co. Plant, Natick, Mass., Feb. 24, 1939

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, looking back from near manhole 5A, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Jul. 23, 1940

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking west at area north of Shaft 11A, Hardwick, Mass., Aug. 26, 1936

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking southeast from Sta. 58+20, dam 3, showing dam 3 to dam 4 Access Road, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., May 29, 1940

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, looking back from manhole 11C, Rutland Sewer Line, Rutland, Mass., Jun. 21, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking west showing Thornton Drive, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Jul. 23, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking east along Florence E. McNutt property line showing uncompleted fence, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Aug. 12, 1940

Panorama from overpass on Route #140, channel below Shaft #1, looking southerly, Wachusett Reservoir, Oakdale, West Boylston, Mass., Sep. 15, 1941 , Water levels, waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, engineering

Prince River at Allen Brothers Foundry dam, looking north, drainage area - 4 square miles, flow - 34 cubic feet per second - 8.5 cubic feet per second per square mile, Barre, Mass., 10:45 AM, Mar. 22, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, factories structures, floods natural events

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, westerly shore south of Deer Hill (compare with No. 5811), Stoneham, Mass., Feb. 2, 1905 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, forestry

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 131+50, Ware, Mass., Jun. 14, 1940

Contract No. 44, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, New Salem, Orange, contractors buildings, New Salem, Mass., Mar. 9, 1934

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back from Sta. 45+50, Ware, Mass., Aug. 9, 1939

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, Phillips Road from Maple Avenue at manhole 7B, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Sep. 5, 1940

Contract No. 85, Manufacture and Delivery of Precast Concrete Steel Cylinder Pipe, Southborough, Framingham, Wayland, Natick, Weston, looking east showing area adjacent to railroad tracks used by the Lock Joint Pipe Co., Natick, Mass., Sep. 5, 1940

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking up Maple Street from Main Street, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Apr. 23, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back from Sta. 71+50, Ware, Mass., Sep. 15, 1939

Barre Wool Combing Co., tailrace gage #3, powder mill dam, Barre, Mass., Jun. 8, 1928 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking east from Sta. 105+40, showing dam 5 spillway, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Jul. 23, 1940

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking southerly on Holt Road from manhole 6B-2, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., May 28, 1940

General view of sump end of sluicing test bin, Enfield, Mass., Nov. 24, 1933 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, engineering, sluices, pre-construction sites

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