Reservoir and Highway Projects

Photographs depicting the construction and development of reservoirs, highways, and related infrastructure in mid-20th century New England.

Contract No. 112, Spillway at Shaft 2 of Quabbin Aqueduct, Holden, looking back from Sta. 4+00, spillway channel at Shaft 2, Holden, Mass., Sep. 23, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking southwest from Sta. 57+50+/-, dam 3, showing proposed site of screened gravel ditch, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Jul. 23, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking northeast from Sta. 72+00 showing condition of borrow area just east of Access Road of dam 1 and dam 4 and showing end of dam 1, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., May 29, 1940

Contract No. 44, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, New Salem, Orange, relief ditch after blasting, New Salem, Mass., Jan. 31, 1934

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, photo no. 1 of panoramic view at site of new high level distribution reservoir, looking westerly from a point 50 feet+/- southeast of Sta. 52+50+/-, Weston, Mass., Aug. 4, 1939

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 116+20, Ware, Mass., May 5, 1939

Contract No. 51, East Branch Baffle, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Greenwich, Hardwick, looking southeast from Sta. 13+50, east branch baffle, Hardwick, Mass., Oct. 21, 1936

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back from Sta. 23+60, Ware, Mass., Jun. 2, 1939

Contract No. 112, Spillway at Shaft 2 of Quabbin Aqueduct, Holden, looking back from Sta. 4+00, spillway channel at Shaft 2, Holden, Mass., Sep. 23, 1940

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking downstream from near Sta. 56+50, middle-east channel, Hardwick, Mass., Jul. 8, 1936

Contract No. 54, Highway in Towns of Dana, Petersham, Worcester County, washout in Dana-Petersham highway, looking ahead from culvert at Sta. 73+00, Dana and Petersham, Mass., Sep. 28, 1938

Contract No. 44, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, New Salem, Orange, looking ahead from near Sta. 1040+00 after 2nd blast, New Salem, Mass., Feb. 3, 1934

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, view showing rolling operation on sub grade for traffic circle and building approach, headhouse at Shaft 4, Southborough, Mass., May 15, 1941

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking downstream from Sta. 45, middle-east channel, Hardwick, Mass., May 20, 1936

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, panorama from site of proposed service building on Quabbin Hill, compass bearing south 85 degrees west, Ware, Mass., Jun. 7, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking southwest from Sta. 17+20, showing general conditions of dam 1 and reservoir, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., May 29, 1940

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. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 32+00, Ware, Mass., Jul. 17, 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 from Sta. 64+50 showing rebuilt access road, Section 1, Southborough, Mass., May 16, 1941

Contract No. 44, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, New Salem, Orange, looking back from near Sta. 1042+50 showing fill, New Salem, Mass., Jan. 20, 1934

Contract No. 44, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, New Salem, Orange, looking back at fill from near Sta. 1042+, New Salem, Mass., May 18, 1934

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, 'C' line, looking back from Sta. 34+50, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Nov. 20, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 145+50, Ware, Mass., Apr. 25, 1939

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking northwest from 150 feet+/- east of Sta. 25+/-, dam 1, showing spoil and borrow area, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Jul. 23, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking southeast from Sta. 107+/-, dam 5, showing location of proposed drainage gutter, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Jul. 23, 1940

Contract No. 112, Spillway at Shaft 2 of Quabbin Aqueduct, Holden, widened channel below riprapped spillway channel, looking ahead from Sta. 1+25, 25 feet left, Holden, Mass., Oct. 9, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking up parking area road from Sta. 72+45, Ware, Mass., Jun. 14, 1940

Contract No. 99, Enlargement of Fells High Level Distribution Reservoir, Stoneham, Malden, Melrose, looking east from Sta. 12+25 showing valve structure and dam 8, enlargement of Fells Reservoir, Stoneham, Mass., Jul. 26, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back at ledge from Sta. 109+40, Ware, Mass., Jun. 29, 1939

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking downstream from Sta. 14+00, middle-east channel, Hardwick, Mass., Jul. 8, 1936

Contract No. 41, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, Belchertown, Pelham, looking north from Sta. 440+50, Belchertown and Pelham, Mass., Nov. 28, 1933

Contract No. 99, Enlargement of Fells High Level Distribution Reservoir, Stoneham, Malden, Melrose, valve chamber and dam 8, looking northeast from Sta. 11+50, enlargement of Fells Reservoir, Stoneham, Mass., Jul. 10, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking north from Sta. 105+20, showing general view of dam 5, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Jun. 21, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, photo no. 6 of panoramic view, looking northwest from point 'A' at site of high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Aug. 23, 1939

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 22+70 on parking circle road, Ware, Mass., Aug. 29, 1939

Contract No. 60, Access Roads to Shaft 12, Quabbin Aqueduct, Hardwick and Greenwich, looking back (southeast) from Sta. 18 on East Branch Baffle, Greenwich and Hardwick, Mass., Apr. 5, 1938

Contract No. 39, Trunk Line Sewer, Rutland, Holden, looking back from Sta. 484+36, Rutland-Holden Sewer Line, Rutland, Mass., Sep. 6, 1934

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, Shaft 11A and outlet channel, Hardwick, Mass., Jul. 8, 1936

Contract No. 14, East Portion, Wachusett-Coldbrook Tunnel, West Boylston, Holden, Rutland, abandoned filter bed, Shaft 2, Holden, Mass., Aug. 31, 1931

Outlet channel Shaft #1, looking west, show recent rip rapping in washout area, West Boylston, Mass., Nov. 14, 1944 , waterworks, aqueducts, reservoirs water distribution structures, engineering, dams hydraulic structures

Wachusett Department, Wachusett Watershed, Gates Brook Improvement, culverts at Bowles and Allard Avenues, West Boylston, Mass., Oct. 26, 1916 , waterworks, brooks, drainage, watershed sanitary improvement

Contract No. 39, Trunk Line Sewer, Rutland, Holden, Fred C. and Lucy Allen, Holden, Rutland-Holder Sewer Line, Holden, Mass., Mar. 31, 1936

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, deep cut excavated from embankment 1 looking east from 20 feet left of Sta. 13+00+/-, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Oct. 19, 1939

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking upstream from bridge at Sta. 10+00, middle-east channel, Hardwick, Mass., Jul. 8, 1936

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back at swamp from Sta. 157+30, Ware, Mass., Apr. 20, 1939

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking west showing approach to Thornton house, grading and drainage operations, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., May 29, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking northwest from right side of Sta. 890+50+/- showing pervious borrow area, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Apr. 30, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking southeast from point 'A', 100 feet east of Sta. 52+50, dam 2 showing reservoir area and swamp 2, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., May 29, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, photo no. 5 of panoramic view, looking north from point 'A' at site of high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Aug. 23, 1939

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 116+60, Ware, Mass., May 11, 1939

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking southeast from Sta. 81+00+/- showing excavation to suitable base for embankment no. 4, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Apr. 5, 1940

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, loamed slope, looking ahead from Sta. 44+00, Ware, Mass., Apr. 11, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking southwest from Sta. 52+70 at concrete mat and curbs on embankment 3, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Oct. 19, 1939

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking northwest from a point 40 feet+/- south of Sta. 880+80, showing general conditions of dam 2, northerly of aqueduct line, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., May 29, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, photo no. 1 of panoramic view looking southeast from a point 120 feet right of Sta. 3+60 showing spoil area and encircling dike, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Sep. 19, 1939

Contract No. 99, Enlargement of Fells High Level Distribution Reservoir, Stoneham, Malden, Melrose, looking north from Sta. 0+90 showing basin 3 and mat over main, enlargement of Fells Reservoir, Stoneham, Mass., Sep. 13, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, photo no. 5 of panoramic view, looking north from point 'B' at site of high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Aug. 23, 1939

Contract No. 99, Enlargement of Fells High Level Distribution Reservoir, Stoneham, Malden, Melrose, looking north along line of 16 inch cast iron drain and 38 inch steel pipe from Sta. 4+50+/-, enlargement of Fells Reservoir, Stoneham, Mass., Apr. 25, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, by Sta. 894+00 on Contract 81, looking west showing excavation beyond end of pipe of pressure aqueduct, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Dec. 5, 1939

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking ahead from Sta. 20+25 on Contract 52 towards Contract 82, Ware, Mass., May 16, 1939

Contract No. 44, Extension of Belchertown-Pelham Highway, New Salem, Orange, looking at old pond area from near Sta. 1044+00 after blasting, New Salem, Mass., Feb. 6, 1934

Contract No. 56, Administration Buildings, Main Dam, Belchertown, drainage ditch from west garage, Belchertown, Mass., Oct. 11, 1937

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back at retaining wall from near Sta. 25+65, Ware, Mass., Nov. 27, 1939

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, embankment 5 looking northeast from 15 feet left of Sta. 104+10, showing mat and curbs, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Nov. 2, 1939

Contract No. 66, Regulating Dams, Middle Branch (New Salem), and East Branch of the Swift River, Hardwick and Petersham (formerly Dana), looking easterly at dam 4 from Sta. 38+00, middle branch regulating dam, Hardwick, Mass., Jul. 10, 1939

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 end of contract, access road to Middle Branch Regulating Dam, Belchertown, Mass., Jun. 19, 1940

Contract No. 45, Exploration by Shovel Cuts of Borrow Areas for Main Dam and Dike, Belchertown, Enfield, Ware, general view from Sta. -0+40, shovel cut 'C', dike borrow area no. 6A, Belchertown, Mass., Oct. 5, 1934

Contract No. 112, Spillway at Shaft 2 of Quabbin Aqueduct, Holden, looking down spillway at Shaft 2 from Sta. 220 degrees, 81 feet from shaft, Holden, Mass., Sep. 23, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, photo no. 3 of a panoramic view looking northeast from a point 120 feet right of Sta. 3+60 showing spoil area and encircling dike, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Sep. 19, 1939

Contract No. 60, Access Roads to Shaft 12, Quabbin Aqueduct, Hardwick and Greenwich, bulldozer spreading fill, looking ahead from Sta. 15+05, Greenwich and Hardwick, Mass., May 2, 1938

Contract No. 39, Trunk Line Sewer, Rutland, Holden, Fred C. and Lucy Allen, Holden, Rutland-Holden Sewer Line, Holden, Mass., Mar. 31, 1936

Contract No. 99, Enlargement of Fells High Level Distribution Reservoir, Stoneham, Malden, Melrose, looking north from 20 feet left of Sta. 4+00, excavation of open channel, enlargement of Fells Reservoir, Stoneham, Mass., Aug. 13, 1940

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. 30, Stream Control Works at Main Dam, Swift River Reservoir, Belchertown, Enfield, Ware, downstream cofferdam, east side of river, looking west, diversion tunnel, Belchertown, Mass., Oct. 9, 1931

Contract No. 99, Enlargement of Fells High Level Distribution Reservoir, Stoneham, Malden, Melrose, looking southwest from Sta. 14+75 showing site of dam 8, enlargement of Fells Reservoir, Stoneham, Mass., Apr. 25, 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 northerly showing loam piles and the placing of fill, headhouse at Shaft 4, Southborough, Mass., May 6, 1941

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking east from Sta. 12+/-, dam 1, showing stock piles of impervious material, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Apr. 23, 1940

Contract No. 51, East Branch Baffle, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Greenwich, Hardwick, looking east from highway intersection, east branch baffle, Hardwick, Mass., Dec. 4, 1936

Dike site, showing concrete core wall near Barretts Junction, Boston Duck Co., Bondsville, Palmer, Mass., Jan. 4, 1940 : Swift River , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

William C. Edwards, looking easterly in gravel pit, showing stumps and roots stored in old pit, Oakham, Mass., May 16, 1941 : Purchased Oct. 2, 1941, Parcel no. 105-26 , waterworks, real estate, watershed sanitary conditions, sand areas, gravel pits

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking north from Sta. 102+5 showing embankment 5, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Oct. 2, 1939

Contract No. 82, Constructing Quabbin Hill Road, Ware, looking back from Sta. 56+50, Ware, Mass., Sep. 15, 1939

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, stripping near Pond Street, from the north, Stoneham, Mass., Jun. 20, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking northeast from Sta. 8+00 showing condition of Oak Street borrow area east of dam 1, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., May 29, 1940

Contract No. 107, Quabbin Hill Recreation Buildings and Road, Ware, looking southwesterly at utility building and tower from traffic circle, Ware, Mass., Dec. 18, 1940

Contract No. 85, Manufacture and Delivery of Precast Concrete Steel Cylinder Pipe, Southborough, Framingham, Wayland, Natick, Weston, yard for storage of 7 in. pipe, looking southeasterly, Natick, Mass., Aug. 8, 1939

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, gravel bank between Sta. 19+20 looking southeast from a point near center line of aqueduct at Sta. 892+50+/-, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Aug. 4, 1939

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking downstream from Sta. 47+00, middle-east channel, Hardwick, Mass., Jul. 8, 1936

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, dam 1, Sta. 11, looking east showing downstream at dam 1, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Nov. 6, 1940

Contract No. 49, Excavating Diversion Channels, Site of Quabbin Reservoir, Dana, Hardwick, Greenwich, looking south at bridge at Sta. 10+00, middle-east channel, Hardwick, Mass., Jul. 8, 1936

Contract No. 17, West Portion, Wachusett-Coldbrook Tunnel, Rutland, Oakham, Barre, site of Shaft 8, Barre, Mass., Jan. 5, 1928

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, future extension of Armington Lane, looking towards Hubbard Lane, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Oct. 10, 1940

Contract No. 108, Utility Wharves, Quabbin Reservoir, Ware, excavation and forms for retaining wall, looking westerly from wing wall of culvert on road through borrow pit, Sta. 15+25, Ware, Mass., Oct. 3, 1940

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, 'C' line looking back from Sta. 42+00 15 feet left, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Nov. 20, 1940

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking northeast from a point 250 feet+/- west of Sta. 18+00, dam 1, showing pervious earth fill for dam 1, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Apr. 17, 1940

Contract No. 66, Regulating Dams, Middle Branch (New Salem), and East Branch of the Swift River, Hardwick and Petersham (formerly Dana), looking easterly from west side of river, east branch regulating dam, Hardwick, Mass., Jun. 5, 1939

Contract No. 60, Access Roads to Shaft 12, Quabbin Aqueduct, Hardwick and Greenwich, looking back (westerly) from Sta. 13+60, Greenwich and Hardwick, Mass., Jun. 15, 1938

Contract No. 80, High Level Distribution Reservoir, Weston, looking north from Sta. 51+00, showing dam 2, high level distribution reservoir, Weston, Mass., Jun. 21, 1940

Ware River, head of Three Rivers Pond near Station #13 looking downstream, drainage area - 218 square miles, flow - 2850 cubic feet per second - 13.1 cubic feet per second per square mile, Palmer, Mass., 11:45 AM, Apr. 18, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, mill ponds, floods natural events

Basis for the turntable and locomotive in Faringe.

Contract No. 88, Furnishing and Storing Top Soil, Quabbin Dike and Quabbin Park Cemetery, Ware, storing loam near access road to Quabbin Dike, looking northerly, Ware, Mass., Mar. 22, 1939

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