Quabbin Resevoir

04/30/2010

Quabbin Reservoir Collection MS 50 Manuscript ABSTRACT

The Quabbin Reservoir Collection contains over 140 photograhs taken during the construction of the reservoir that capture different aspects of the process. Also included in the collection are many miscellaneous literature/items regarding the Quabbin Reservoir, including maps, wildlife and recreation pamphlets, calendars, newspaper articles, original construction Contracts, and newsletters.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Quabbin Reservoir, "Place of many waters," was constructed by the Metropolitan District Commission to supply Boston with clean water. It is one of the largest man-made public water supplies in the country. Although discussion of the project had begun in the legislature in 1895, final decision was not reached until 1927. Construction went on until 1939, but the Reservoir did not fill completely until 1943. Four towns, Enfield, Dana, Greenwich, and Prescott, were demolished in the construction. However, many of the people were allotted land in reimbursement and cemeteries were moved. The area was known as the Swift River Valley and consisted of small independent towns and villages. The WPI Quabbin Reservoir Collection contains many photographs and drawings of these homes and the construction of the reservoir.

The Reservoir area consists of two earth dams - the main dam (Winsor Dam) is 2,648 feet long, and 170 feet above the level of the Swift River. A dike 2,140 feet long is 135 feet above the level of Beaver Brook.

Water flows by gravity to the Wachusett Reservoir in West Boylston, through the Quabbin Aqueduct, a 24.6 mile tunnel (11 feet wide and 13 feet high) through solid rock. From the Wachusett Reservoir, water passes through the Wachusett Aqueduct to the Sudbury Reservoir and the Weston Aqueduct into Boston, a distance of over fifty miles.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Quabbin Reservoir Collection, located in the WPI Library Archives, contains historical photographs dating back to1920's that follow the construction process of the Quabbin Reservoir. The collection also includes more recent Quabbin Reservoir paraphernalia such as pamphlets, maps, brochures, and calendars.

The photograph portion of the QRC consists of over 140 black and white photos ranging from November 1928 to June 1938. The photographs capture different aspects of the construction of the reservoir. The Quabbin Reservoir project took nearly 14 years to complete and these photographs cover nearly the entire process. Also included are five drawings/paintings of several homes before they were destroyed in order to construct the reservoir.

Also included in the collection are copies of the original contracts for the development of the Quabbin Reservoir. The contracts were proposed by the Metropolitan District Water Supply Commission and include information for bidders, proposal, contract, plans and specifications. The WPI Quabbin Reservoir Collection has copies of Contract #14, 19, 20, 30, 36, and 50.

The Collection also has 10 different editions of Quabbin Voices, a quarterly newsletter written by members of the "Friends of Quabbin" organization. The newsletters are dated from Summer 1985 to Summer 1989. These newsletters basically summarize any issues concerning the Quabbin Reservoir as well as Page 1 feature articles on some of the events and wildlife that occurred between each newsletter.

Another portion of the collection is four "Quabbin History Calendar's" from 1986 to 1989. These are calendars that have a historical picture of the Quabbin Reservoir for each month of the year, with a description below.

Several newspaper articles are also part of the collection. One article features Roger Lonergan, WPI Class of 1931, who worked nearly 54 years as a full-time employee for the Quabbin Reservoir. Other articles discuss the potential problems that a growing population will have on the amount of water needed to be distributed by the Quabbin Reservoir.

Quabbin Reservoir maps can also be found in the Collection as well as pamphlets and brochures of the wildlife and recreation within the reservoir area.

Container List Container Folder Date Title None

Series I: Reservoir Contracts MS 50_001 Administrative Records Container List Container Folder Date Title Box 1 Folder 1 1927 Contract #14 This folder contains two copies of the Contract #14 used in the development of the Quabbin Reservoir created by the Metropolitan District Water Supply Commission. The title reads, "Information for bidders, proposal, contract, plans and specifications for constructing the Wachusett-Coldbrook tunnel in the towns of West Boylston, Holden, Rutland, Oakham and Barre."

Box 1 Folder 2 1929, 1931 Contract #19 & 20 This folder contains a copy of both the 19th and 20th Contracts used in the development of the Quabbin Reservoir created by the Metropolitan District Water Supply Commission. The title of Contract #19 reads, "Information for bidders, proposal, contract, plans and specifications for constructing the dam and the substructure of the intake building for the Ware River intake works at Shaft 8 of the Wachusett-Coldbrook Tunnel in the town of Barre." Contract #20 reads, "Information for bidders, proposal, contract, plans and specifications for constructing the Coldbrook-Swift Tunnel in the towns of Barre, Hardwick and Greenwich."

Box 1 Folder 3 1931 - 1941 Contract #30, 36, 50 This folder contains a copy of the 30th, 36th, and 50th Contracts used in the development of the Quabbin Reservoir created by the Metropolitan District Water Supply Commission. The title of Contract #30 reads, "Information for bidders, proposal, contract, plans and specifications for constructing the stream control works at the main dam of the Swift River Reservoir in the towns of Belchertown, Enfield, and Ware." Contract 36: ""Information for bidders, proposal, contract, plans and specifications for constructinga core wall to sound rock at the site of the dike of Quabbin Reservoir in the towns of Enfield and Ware." Contract 50: ""Information for bidders, proposal, contract, plans and specifications for constructing the embankment of the dike of Quabbin Reservour in the towns of Enfield and Ware."

Page 2 Series II: Quabbin Reservoir General MS 50_002 Administrative Records Container List Container Folder Date Title Box 1 Folder 4 1985 - 1989 Quabbin Voices - Quarterly Newsletter This folder contains 10 editions of "Quabbin Voices", a quarterly newsletter written by members of the "Friends of Quabbin" organization. The newsletters are dated from Summer 1985 to Summer 1989. These newsletters basically summarize any issues concerning the Quabbin Reservoir as well as feature articles on some of the events and wildlife that occurred between each newsletter.

Box 1 Folder 5 1986 - 1989 Quabbin History Calendars This folder contains four "Quabbin History Calendar's" from 1986 to 1989. These are calendars that have a historical picture of the Quabbin Reservoir for each month of the year, with a description below.

Box 1 Folder 6 1966, 1987 Newspaper Articles This folder contains several newspaper articles written about the Quabbin Reservoir. One article features Roger Lonergan, WPI Class of 1931, who worked nearly 54 years as a full-time employee for the Quabbin Reservoir. Other articles discuss the potential problems that a growing population will have on the amount of water needed to be distributed by the Quabbin Reservoir.

Box 1 Folder 7 No Date Wildlife & Recreation Information This folder contains pamphlets and brochures regarding the wildlife and recreation of the Quabbin Reservoir.

Box 1 Folder 9 No Date Exhibit Materials This folder contains various literature that was used during a Quabbin Reservoir Exhibit. For example, historical summaries of the Quabbin Reservoir and the Swift River Valley.

Series III: Quabbin Reservoir Construction MS 50_003 Administrative Records Photographs

Container List Container Folder Date Title Box 2 Folder 1 1928 - 1930 Quabbin Construction Photographs: 1928 - 1930 This folder contains photographs from 1928 to 1930 of the Quabbin Reservoir project. The photographs capture different aspects of the construction of the reservoir.

Box 2 Folder 2 1930 - 1931 Quabbin Construction Photographs: 1930 - 1931 This folder contains photographs from 1930 to 1931 of the Quabbin Reservoir project. The photographs capture different aspects of the construction of the reservoir.

Box 2 Folder 3 1931 - 1932 Quabbin Construction Photographs: 1931 - 1932 This folder contains photographs from 1931 to 1932 of the Quabbin Reservoir project. The photographs capture different aspects of the construction of the reservoir.

Box 2 Folder 4 1932 - 1936 Quabbin Construction Photographs: 1932 - 1936 This folder contains photographs from 1932 to 1936 of the Quabbin Reservoir project. The photographs capture different aspects of the construction of the reservoir. Page 3 Box 2 Folder 5 1937 - 1938 Quabbin Construction Photographs: 1937 - 1938 This folder contains photographs from 1937 to 1938 of the Quabbin Reservoir project. The photographs capture different aspects of the construction of the reservoir.

Box 2 Folder 6 No Date Quabbin Construction Photographs: No Date This folder contains undated photographs of the Quabbin Reservoir project. The photographs capture different aspects of the construction of the reservoir. They are black and white and one is a schematic of a pump system used in the construction process.

Series IV: Paintings/Drawings of Quabbin Area Homes MS 50_004 Administrative Records Container List Container Folder Date Title Box 3 1879 Paintings This box contains five paintings/drawings of the homes that were built in the Quabbin Reservoir area before it was constructed. The homes had to eventually be destroyed to make way for the construction of the Quabbin Reservoir.

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