Historic Hydroelectric Dams in Massachusetts

Black and white images of various dams on rivers in Massachusetts, showcasing flood conditions, water flow measurements, and surrounding natural landscapes from the 1930s.

Ware River, Thorndike Lower Dam, Thorndike, looking upstream, Ware River, Palmer, Mass., 3:05 PM (E.D.S.T.), May 11, 1931 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Chicopee River, dam at Red Bridge hydroelectric station, Ludlow Manufacturing Associates, drainage area - 663 square miles, flow - 6400 cubic feet per second - 9.6 cubic feet per second per square mile, Ludlow, Mass., 2:45 PM, Sep. 18, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Swift River, Boston Duck Mills, looking at weir near steam station, drainage area - 192 square miles, flow in river (visible in photo) 1060 cubic feet per second, flow through canal - 500 cubic feet per second, total 1560 cubic feet per second - 8.1 cubic feet per second per square mile, Palmer, Mass., 10:45 AM, Apr. 4, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events, factories structures

Chicopee River, dam at Red Bridge hydroelectric station, Ludlow Manufacturing Associates, drainage area - 663 square miles, flow - 6400 cubic feet per second - 9.6 cubic feet per second per square mile, Ludlow, Mass., 2:45 PM, Sep. 18, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Swift River - dam at Enfield, flood photo, Enfield, Mass., Mar. 19, 1936 : Parcel no. 269--, 10:10 AM , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, real estate, dams hydraulic structures, road bridges, floods natural events

Ware River, George W. Wheelwright Paper Co. dam, drainage area - 130 square miles, flow - 1460 cubic feet per second - 11.2 cubic feet per second per square mile, Hardwick, Mass., 2:15 PM, Apr. 13, 1934 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, Woodland Road, looking northerly from Sta. 37+75, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Dec. 28, 1939

Barre Wool Combing Co., pool at lagoon outlet, Barre, Mass., 2:30 PM, May 22, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Ware River, Thorndike Lower Dam, Thorndike, looking upstream, Ware River, Palmer, Mass., 3:05 PM (E.D.S.T.), May 11, 1931 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Ware River at Ware Mills, Otis Co. dam, Ware, Mass., 1:25 PM, Mar. 19, 1936 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures

Chicopee River, dam at Collins Manufacturing Co., drainage area - 680 square miles, flow over dam - 4910 cubic feet per second, through canal - 700 cubic feet per second, total 5610 cubic feet per second - 8.2 cubic feet per second per square mile, Wilbraham, Mass., 3:00 PM, Apr. 5, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Sudbury Department, Framingham Reservoir No. 3, shore improvement on south side, looking east, Framingham, Mass., Dec. 13, 1907 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Ware Woolen Co., looking easterly at carbonizing building and wet finishing plant, Ware, Mass., Nov. 21, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, factories structures, general views

Distribution Department, Low Service Pipe Lines, condition of Boston & Albany Railroad tracks after break in 30-inch main, Boylston Street at Boylston Place, looking east from Washington Street Bridge, Brookline, Mass., Feb. 14, 1917 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

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

Prince River, Allen Brothers Foundry Dam, flow - 33 cubic feet per second, 7.7 cubic feet per second per square mile, drainage area - 4.3 square miles, Barre, Mass., Mar. 9, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, factories structures, floods natural events

From the game house fire at Pellegruvan in 1919.

G.H. Gilbert Manufacturing Co., upper dam, drainage area - 161 square miles, flow - 1730 cubic feet per second over dam, 60 cubic feet per second through water wheels, total 1790 cubic feet per second - 11.1 cubic feet per second per square mile, Hardwick, Mass., 11:00 AM, Apr. 17, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

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

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

Muddy Brook from Ware-Enfield Road, drainage area - 19 square miles, flow - 140 cubic feet per second - 7.4 cubic feet per second per square mile, Ware, Mass., Mar. 22, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, brooks, watershed sanitary conditions, billboards site elements, floods natural events

Ware River, dam at Intake Works, drainage area - 98 square miles, flow - 1140 cubic feet per second - 11.6 cubic feet per second per square mile, Barre, Mass., 1:45 PM, Apr. 13, 1934 : Parcel no. 123-4 , waterworks, engineering, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

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

Ware River, middle dam at Ware, looking towards Ware Valley Manufacturing Co., drainage area - 168 square miles, flow 1180 cubic feet per second over dam, 100 cubic feet per second through wheels, total 1280 cubic feet per second - 7.6 cubic feet per second per square mile, Ware, Mass., 4:35 PM, Apr. 3, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events, factories structures

Bircham Bend, canal and station, Springfield, Mass., May 15, 1928 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, rivers, hydroelectric dams, watershed sanitary conditions

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, Maple Avenue, looking northerly from opposite Sta. 17+50, Rutland Sewer Line, Rutland, Mass., May 9, 1940

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

Chicopee River, tailrace, Collins Manufacturing Co., drainage area - 680 square miles, flow in tailrace (visible in photo) - 700 cubic feet per second over dam - 4910 cubic feet per second, total 5610 cubic feet per second - 8.2 cubic feet per second per square mile, head-canal to tailrace - 12.5ft. Wilbraham, Mass., 2:30 PM, Apr. 5, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, tailraces, floods natural events, factories structures

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking easterly from Sta. 2+25 near manhole 6B4-10 along High School-Bascom Parkway line, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Dec. 28, 1939

Looking northerly at storehouse no. 4, Boston Duck Co., Bondsville, Palmer, Mass., Jan. 3, 1940 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, factories structures, storehouses

Chicopee River at Three Rivers bridge, Three Rivers, Palmer, Mass., 3:10 PM, Sep. 21, 1938 , New England Hurricane, 1938, waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, factories structures

Porjus power plant in large Lule River during construction. View downstream over the big skib table.

Ware River, Ware Woolen Co., dam at Ware, looking upstream, Ware River, Ware, Mass., 2:15 PM (E.D.S.T.), May 11, 1931 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events, factories structures

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, 'C' line, looking ahead from manhole 1C, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Dec. 19, 1940

Looking northerly at Middle Branch regulating dam, Quabbin Reservoir, Mass., Apr. 1, 1940 : Parcel no. 570-- , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, engineering, dams hydraulic structures, bridges built works

Gilbert Manufacturing Co., dam at Ware from east side looking upstream, Ware River, Ware, Mass., 2:10 PM, Apr. 11, 1931 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events, factories structures

Ware River at Ware Mills Otis Co. middle dam from South Street bridge, drainage area - 168 square miles, flow - 1694 cubic feet per second - 10.1 cubic feet per second per square mile, Ware, Mass., 4:05 PM, Apr. 13, 1934 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events, factories structures

Federal Fabrics Corporation, control dam at Greenwich Lake outlet, Greenwich, Mass., May 24, 1933 : Parcel no. 309-10 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, real estate, dams hydraulic structures, railroad bridges

Barre Wool Combing Co., outlet pipe from dye house, Barre, Mass., 2:40 PM, May 22, 1935 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, factories structures, settling tanks

Beaver Brook at Pepper's mill pond dam, Ware, Mass., 8:00 AM, May 16, 1936 , waterworks, real estate, brooks, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures

Prince River, Grist Mill dam, just above Route #122 bridge, drainage area - 9.2 square miles, flow - 71 cubic feet per second - 7.7 cubic feet per second per square mile, Barre, Mass., Mar. 9, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, mills buildings, floods natural events

Chicopee River, new channel at Bircham Bend hydroelectric station, Springfield, Mass., 2:20 PM, Oct. 1, 1938 , New England Hurricane, 1938, waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures, hydroelectric power plants, damage condition

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, line 'A', Main Street, looking back from manhole 4A, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Feb. 26, 1941

Ware Woolen Co., Ware Valley Manufacturing Co. Inc., dam looking towards Ware Valley Manufacturing Co. Inc., drainage area - 168 square miles, flow - 1700 cubic feet per second over dam, 100 cubic feet per second through wheels, total - 1800 cubic feet per second - 10.7 cubic feet per second per square mile, Ware, Mass., 9:45 AM, Apr. 17, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events, factories structures

Ware River at Ware Mills Otis Co. middle dam from South Street bridge, drainage area - 168 square miles, flow - 1694 cubic feet per second - 10.1 cubic feet per second per square mile, Ware, Mass., 4:05 PM, Apr. 13, 1934 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events, factories structures

Chicopee River, new channel at Bircham Bend hydroelectric station, Springfield, Mass., 2:20 PM, Oct. 1, 1938 , New England Hurricane, 1938, waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures, hydroelectric power plants, damage condition

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, Bascom Parkway from intersection with Highland Street, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Jul. 22, 1941

Overflow from canal of the Ware Mills, Otis Co., Ware, Mass., 1:40 PM, Mar. 19, 1936 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, residential structures

Distribution Department, Low Service Pipe Lines, 48-inch check valve and Venturi meter throat sections at Beacon and St. Mary's Streets, Brookline, Mass., May 31, 1917 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Intake and discharge channels, sluicing test bin, Enfield, Mass., Nov. 24, 1933 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, engineering, sluices, pre-construction sites

Forebay at Station D, Boston Duck Co., Bondsville, Palmer, Mass., Jan. 4, 1940 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, factories structures

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking ahead on Main Street from intersection with Boyden Road, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Dec. 19, 1940

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking westerly on Boydon Road from Sta. 3+50, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Mar. 26, 1940

Station #107, Ware River, West Branch at Barre-Princeton Road, Hubbardston, Mass., Dec. 15, 1930 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, bridges built works, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

George H. Gilbert Manufacturing Co., Ware dam, drainage area - 168 square miles, entire flow over dam - 1810 cubic feet per second - 10.8 cubic feet per second per square mile, Hardwick, Mass., 9:30 AM, Apr. 17, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Chicopee River, Otis Co., dam at Three Rivers, looking upstream, Palmer, Mass., 3:20 PM (E.D.S.T.), May 11, 1931 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

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, middle branch regulating dams, Hardwick, Mass., Oct. 9, 1939

Barre Wool Combing Co., dam, South Barre, Barre, Mass., Jun. 8, 1928 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, rivers, hydroelectric dams, watershed sanitary conditions

Thorndike Upper Dam from west side, Ware River, Palmer, Mass., 1:20 PM, Apr. 11, 1931 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, dams hydraulic structures, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events

RR trestle connects the cantonment and filling plant at the under construction Edgewood Arsenal in Edgewood, Maryland. This photograph was taken on July 10, 1918, and is part of the documentation of American military activities during World War I.

Gisslarbo mill.

Ware River, Thorndike Upper Dam from west side, Thorndike, Palmer, Mass., 2:08 PM, Apr. 1, 1932 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Wachusett Department, Wachusett-Sudbury power transmission line, setting pole, Southborough, Mass., Nov. 13, 1917 , waterworks, power lines, construction sites

Ware River, upper dam, George H. Gilbert Co., looking south, flow approximately 860 cubic feet per second, Barre, Mass., 2:20 PM, Oct. 20, 1932 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures

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

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking easterly on Bascom Parkway, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Apr. 23, 1940

Contract No. 25,Superstructure, Wachusett Outlet Works Building, Shaft 1, Wachusett-Coldbrook Tunnel, West Boylston, concrete abutment at north end of dam at Shaft 1 before facing with stone, West Boylston, Mass., Nov. 3, 1930

Station #101, Ware River at Boston & Albany Railroad Bridge at Coldbrook, Oakham, Mass., Dec. 15, 1930 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, bridges built works, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Ware River, George W. Wheelwright Paper Co., dam and tailrace, flow approximately 650 cubic feet per second, Barre, Mass., 12:00 PM, Oct. 20, 1932 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, tailraces, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events, factories structures

Wheelwright Paper Co., 26, Gage #1, Hardwick, Mass., Jun. 8, 1928 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, rivers, hydroelectric dams, watershed sanitary conditions

Wastes from Collins Manufacturing Co. above Station F-2, Wilbraham, Mass., 1:45 PM, Sep. 29, 1932 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, factories structures

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, looking ahead from opposite manhole 2A, line 'A', Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., Dec. 19, 1940

Ware Valley Manufacturing Co. Inc., tailrace gage #3, Ware, Mass., Jun. 8, 1928 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, rivers, hydroelectric dams, factories structures, watershed sanitary conditions

Wheelwright Paper Co., 26, dam, Hardwick, Mass., Jun. 8, 1928 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, rivers, hydroelectric dams, watershed sanitary conditions

Ware River, looking upstream from the South Street bridge at the Ware Woolen and the Ware Valley Co. dam, Ware, Mass., 12:10 PM, Mar. 19, 1936 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures, factories structures

Chicopee River, Chicopee Manufacturing Corp. mill pond looking south from City of Chicopee pumping-station, drainage area - 713 square miles, flow - 7350 cubic feet per second - 10.3 cubic feet per second per square mile, Chicopee, Mass., 1:30 PM, Apr. 20, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, mill ponds, floods natural events

Contract No. 70, WPA Sewer Construction, Rutland, looking back from near Sta. 9, Rutland Sewer, Rutland, Mass., May 28, 1940

Contract No. 14, East Portion, Wachusett-Coldbrook Tunnel, West Boylston, Holden, Rutland, contractors buildings, Shaft 1, West Boylston, Mass., Sep. 30, 1929

Elsevier photo collection. Lijnbaanshuisje Aalsmeer disappear, craft, namely rope, descend. February 1927. Aalsmeer, Noord-Holland

Contract No. 21, Portion of Ware-Belchertown Highway, Ware and Belchertown, timbering for middle and east deck of new highway bridge, looking upstream, Ware and Belchertown, Mass., May 24, 1932

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking northerly on Lovell Road from intersection with Main Street manhole 4A-6, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Jul. 22, 1941

Contract No. 56, Administration Buildings, Main Dam, Belchertown, looking southeasterly at water supply tank, Belchertown, Mass., Sep. 23, 1937

Ware River, middle dam, looking towards Ware Valley Manufacturing Co., and (upstream) Ware Mills, Otis Co., flow approximately 880 cubic feet per second, Ware, Mass., 10:45 AM, Oct. 21, 1932 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures, factories structures

Barre Wool Combing Co., river gage, Barre, Mass., Feb. 3, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Contract No. 108, Utility Wharves, Quabbin Reservoir, Ware, view of work boat and wharf looking southwesterly, Ware, Mass., Aug. 17, 1945

Dwight Manufacturing Co., canal, section #4, Chicopee, Mass., Aug. 20, 1931 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, bridges built works, artificial water channels

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking back from opposite Sta. 58+40 Highland Street, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., Oct. 24, 1940

Prince River, Panaccione Brothers dam, flow 14 cubic feet per second, Barre, Mass., Dec. 8, 1932 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures

Veneer and Plywood Making - North Carolina. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History

Moose Brook, looking north at Old Furnace dam, drainage area - 10 square miles, flow - 56 cubic feet per second - 5.6 cubic feet per second per square mile, 1:30 PM, Hardwick, Mass., Mar. 22, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, brooks, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, road bridges, floods natural events

Ware River, United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) Gaging Station at Gibbs Crossing, new station, flow - 880 cubic feet per second, Thorndike, Palmer, Mass., 4:30 PM, Oct. 21, 1932 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events

Chicopee River, Chicopee Manufacturing Corp., tailrace #5 Unit, head canal to tailrace 23.5ft., drainage area - 713 square miles, flow - 5450 cubic feet per second - 7.6 cubic feet per second per square mile, discharge #5 Unit - 1200 cubic feet per second, Chicopee, Mass., 11:10 AM, Apr. 6, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, tailraces, floods natural events, factories structures

Chicopee River, tailwater, Indian Orchard hydroelectric station of the United Electric Light Co., drainage area - 686 square miles, flow - 5300 cubic feet per second - 7.7 cubic feet per second per square mile, Ludlow and Springfield, Mass., 4:00 PM, Apr. 5, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, hydroelectric power plants, tailraces

Ware River, Ware Woolen and Ware Valley dam from South Street bridge, Ware, Mass., 4:05 PM, Mar. 12, 1936 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, dams hydraulic structures, factories structures

Inland paper mills, Västergötland, 1917.

Chicopee River, tailwater, hydroelectric station, Palmer Mills, Otis Co., drainage area - 644 square miles, flow - 5400 cubic feet per second - 8.4 cubic feet per second per square mile, Palmer, Mass., 1:30 PM, Apr. 5, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, hydroelectric power plants, tailraces

Contract No. 71, WPA Sewer Construction, Holden, looking easterly on Bascom Parkway, Holden Sewer, Holden, Mass., May 28, 1940

Station #101, Ware River at Boston & Albany Railroad Bridge at Coldbrook, Oakham, Mass., Dec. 15, 1930 , Stream-gaging stations, waterworks, real estate, bridges built works, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions

Collins Manufacturing Co., dam and headgates, Wilbraham, Mass., Mar. 15, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, factories structures, dams hydraulic structures

Ware River, Barre Wool Combing Co., Powder Mill Dam, looking south, Barre, Mass., 10:00 AM, Oct. 20, 1932 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, dams hydraulic structures, floods natural events

Chicopee River, tailwater, Indian Orchard hydroelectric station of the United Electric Light Co., drainage area - 686 square miles, flow - 5300 cubic feet per second - 7.7 cubic feet per second per square mile, Ludlow and Springfield, Mass., 4:00 PM, Apr. 5, 1933 , waterworks, real estate, rivers, watershed sanitary conditions, floods natural events, hydroelectric power plants, tailraces

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