Historical Waterworks Construction

Images of early 20th-century waterworks projects, showcasing construction sites, natural landscapes, and engineering elements in the Massachusetts area.

Sudbury Department, North Angellico Swamp, heavy timber, station 2, A Line, Southborough, Mass., Dec. 7, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, swamps, construction sites, watershed sanitary improvement

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, surface water drains, south from station 7+50 before construction, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 11, 1915 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, surface water drains, south from station 7+50 before construction, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 11, 1915 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 3, Dexter Lot, Newton, Mass., May 26, 1903 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Sudbury Department, North Angellico Swamp, heavy timber, station 2, A Line, Southborough, Mass., Dec. 7, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, swamps, construction sites, watershed sanitary improvement

Wachusett Department, Wachusett-Sudbury power transmission line, regular 40-foot single poles, Wachusett Aqueduct, covered portion, Northborough, Mass., Aug. 1, 1918 , waterworks, power lines, aqueducts, construction completed

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 4, work completed, looking southeasterly (compare with No. 4773); golf course, hole No. 7 in foreground, Newton, Mass., May 14, 1903 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites, golf courses

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Line, Section 19, station 14, Reservoir Lane, Brookline, Mass., Nov. 26, 1898 , waterworks, aqueducts, roadways

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 4, work completed, looking northwesterly, Newton, Mass., May 14, 1903 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Sudbury Department, improvement of Lake Cochituate, Snake Brook Meadow, Natick; Wayland, Mass., Nov. 3, 1902 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, brooks, watershed sanitary improvement

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Line, Section 19, station 11, Reservoir Lane; Webber's Waste Weir (Cochituate Aqueduct), in middle ground, right, Brookline, Mass., Nov. 26, 1898 , waterworks, aqueducts, roadways, gatehouses

Wachusett Aqueduct, Little Crane Swamp, drainage ditch, station 0, H Line, Northborough, Mass., Mar. 19, 1902 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, swamps, watershed sanitary improvement

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 4, looking southeasterly, excavating trench and cutting trees, Newton, Mass., Nov. 14, 1902 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 4, looking southeasterly, excavating trench and cutting trees, Newton, Mass., Nov. 14, 1902 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Northern Extra High Service Pipe Lines, 12-inch pipe line in Park Avenue, Arlington, Mass., Sep. 1, 1909 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Northern Extra High Service Pipe Lines, 12-inch pipe line in Park Avenue, Arlington, Mass., Sep. 1, 1909 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, looking easterly near Southern Gatehouse, Stoneham, Mass., Dec. 9, 1904 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, swamps, forestry

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, surface water drains, Woodland Road south from station 21+19, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 11, 1915 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Chestnut Hill High Service Pumping Station, grading near pumping station, Brighton, Mass., May 25, 1899 , waterworks, pumping stations, construction sites

Wachusett Department, Wachusett-Sudbury power transmission line, Boylston and Wilson Street crossing near Wachusett Dam, steel towers 48 feet high, span 176 feet, Clinton, Mass., Aug. 1, 1918 , waterworks, power lines, construction completed

Distribution Department, Southern Extra High Service Bellevue Reservoir, looking south, easterly portion of reservoir site, Bellevue Hill, West Roxbury, Mass., Aug. 4, 1914 , waterworks, water towers, construction sites, surveying instruments, pre-construction site

Wachusett Reservoir, slope paving, about station 67+00, Section 1; from the west, Boylston, Mass., Sep. 10, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, Shrewsbury Road, Section 2, west of station 145, Boylston, Mass., Jul. 9, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, roads

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, Great Island, Section 5, from the north, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 3, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 3, west portal of Tunnel No. 3, Framingham, Mass., Aug. 27, 1901 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, Shrewsbury Road, Section 2, east of station 134, Boylston, Mass., Oct. 15, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, Southern Extra High Service Bellevue Reservoir, looking southeast, reservoir site, Bellevue Hill, West Roxbury, Mass., Aug. 4, 1914 , waterworks, water towers, construction sites, pre-construction site

Wachusett Department, Wachusett-Sudbury power transmission line, transposition poles, Wachusett Aqueduct, covered portion, Northborough, Mass., Aug. 1, 1918 , waterworks, power lines, aqueducts, construction completed

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Line, Section 19, station 9, Reservoir Lane (compare with No. 1563); Webber's Waste Weir (Cochituate Aqueduct), in middle ground, right, Brookline, Mass., Nov. 26, 1898 , waterworks, aqueducts, roadways, gatehouses

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, Main Street and Bear Hill Road, looking southerly, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 4, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures

Wachusett Aqueduct, Little Crane Swamp, drainage ditch, station 3+90, H Line, Northborough, Mass., Mar. 19, 1902 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, swamps, watershed sanitary improvement

Sudbury Department, improvement of Lake Cochituate, south from culvert in county road, before constructing drain, Framingham, Mass., Jul. 13, 1910 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, watershed sanitary improvement

Wachusett Dam, Wachusett Waste Channel, Clinton, Mass., Sep. 8, 1900 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Line, Section 19, station 9, Reservoir Lane (compare with No. 1563); Webber's Waste Weir (Cochituate Aqueduct), in middle ground, right, Brookline, Mass., Nov. 26, 1898 , waterworks, aqueducts, roadways, gatehouses

Sudbury Department, improvement of Lake Cochituate, open drain near county road, Natick, Mass., Oct. 10, 1911 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, watershed sanitary improvement

Wachusett Reservoir, Shrewsbury Road, Section 1, west of station 117, Boylston, Mass., Aug. 9, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, roads

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, Great Island, Section 5, from the north, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 3, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, relocation of Worcester, Nashua & Portland Division of Boston & Maine Railroad, slope paving north of Oakdale depot, Oakdale, West Boylston, Mass., Nov. 22, 1902 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, railroads infrastructure, construction sites

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Line, Section 19, station 4, Reservoir Lane (compare with No. 1566), Webber's Waste Weir (Cochituate Aqueduct), in middle ground, right, Brookline, Mass., Nov. 26, 1898 , waterworks, aqueducts, roadways

Sudbury Department, Angellico Swamp, drainage ditches, junction of A and C Lines, Southborough, Mass., Dec. 7, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, swamps, construction sites, watershed sanitary improvement

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Forbes Hill Reservoir, site of, looking west, towards proposed gate chamber, X315 Y250, Quincy, Mass., Jun. 27, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, pre-construction site

Distribution Department, Low Service Pipe Lines, Section 12, trench in rock for two 60-inch pipes, Medford, Mass., Sep. 16, 1902 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 15, ledge excavation, stations 683+50 to 682, Weston, Mass., Jun. 23, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Sudbury Department, Whitney's Swamp, drainage ditch, station 2, G Line, Ashland, Mass., Dec. 6, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, swamps, construction sites, watershed sanitary improvement

Wachusett Reservoir, site of demolished dam in Quinapoxet River, formerly West Boylston Manufacturing Company, Oakdale, West Boylston, Mass., Apr. 8, 1902 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Sudbury Department, improvement of Lake Cochituate, trench in Pond Street, Wayland, Mass., Sep. 22, 1910 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, watershed sanitary improvement

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Line, Section 19, station 15, Reservoir Lane, Brookline, Mass., Nov. 26, 1898 , waterworks, aqueducts, roadways

Wachusett Reservoir, Shrewsbury Road, Section 1, east of station 76, West Boylston, Mass., Jul. 10, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, roads

Wachusett Department, Wachusett Aqueduct, water supply for Westborough State Hospital, extension of 12-inch suction pipe to Terminal Chamber; 'copy'; Westborough, through Northborough, to Marlborough, Marlborough, Mass., Nov. 1917 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Wachusett Aqueduct, Crane Swamp improved, station 21, A Line, Northborough, Mass., Oct. 24, 1899 , waterworks, aqueducts, swamps, watershed sanitary improvement

Wachusett Department, Nashua River, upstream below Lancaster Mills (compare with No. 7241), Clinton, Mass., Apr. 5, 1916 , waterworks, riverbanks

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Line, Section 19, Reservoir Lane, station 20, from the northwest, Brookline, Mass., May 2, 1898 , waterworks, aqueducts, roadways

Wachusett Reservoir, Shrewsbury Road, Section 1, east of station 76, West Boylston, Mass., Jul. 10, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, roads

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, view from junction of Pond Street and Woodland Road, Stoneham, Mass., May 28, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, northerly view through middle of swamp behind Pickerel Rock, Stoneham, Mass., Dec. 9, 1904 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, swamps, forestry

Distribution Department, Chestnut Hill Reservoir, work on English Elm trees along Beacon Street; vicinity of Chestnut Hill Pumping Stations, Brighton, Mass., Nov. 1920-1921 , waterworks, trees

Wachusett Reservoir, Galen Atherton's land, fence rails, etc., left by high water, Harvard, Mass., Apr. 15, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, watershed sanitary improvement

Wachusett Reservoir, downstream face of dam at filter-beds, Sterling, Mass., Jun. 4, 1907 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, filter beds, watershed sanitary improvement

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, surface water drains, north from station 10+50, trench for 15-inch drain, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 26, 1915 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, filter-beds, looking north, Sterling Junction, Sterling, Mass., Nov. 14, 1907 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, filter beds, watershed sanitary improvement

Relocation Central Massachusetts Railroad, Andrew Leinhardt's hennery, looking easterly, Clinton, Mass., Apr. 28, 1902 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, real estate

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 2, Commonwealth Avenue, near Walnut Street, after completion of work, Newton, Mass., Jun. 27, 1902 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, northerly view through middle of swamp behind Pickerel Rock, Stoneham, Mass., Dec. 9, 1904 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, swamps, forestry

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, eastern shore, Spring Cove area (from near Langwood), Stoneham, Mass., Jul. 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, general views

Wachusett Reservoir, filter-beds, looking north, Sterling Junction, Sterling, Mass., Nov. 14, 1907 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, filter beds, watershed sanitary improvement

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Line, Section 19, station 29+00, Boylston Street, Brookline, Mass., Sep. 8, 1898 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Chestnut Hill Reservoir, shore, Brighton, Mass., Jun. 23, 1912 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, grounds open spaces

Sudbury Department, filter-bed below Southborough swimming pool, Boston Road, Fayville, Southborough, Mass., Apr. 28, 1910 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, filter beds, watershed sanitary improvement

Wachusett Reservoir, Shrewsbury Road, Section 3, west of station 220, Boylston, Mass., Aug. 9, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, roads

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, treatment of shore near Porter Cove, from the south (improvement of west shore), Stoneham, Mass., Aug. 14, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, devastation by moths on taking line near Quarter Mile Pond, Medford, Mass., Jul. 15, 1905 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, forestry, moths

Wachusett Reservoir, east side of 5-foot stone arch culvert, Maple Street, West Boylston, Mass., Dec. 19, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, culverts

Distribution Department, Northern High Service Middlesex Fells Reservoir, road to reservoir, looking south from station 9+50, Stoneham, Mass., Jun. 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, roadways

Distribution Department, Chestnut Hill Low Service Pumping Station, view from reservoir embankment, Brighton, Mass., Dec. 23, 1898 , waterworks, pumping stations, construction sites

Distribution Department, Northern High Service Middlesex Fells Reservoir, southeast from the west end of Dam No. 2; site, Stoneham, Mass., Nov. 16, 1897 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Lines, Section 47, excavating 20-inch pipe trench, Lake Street, 350 feet northeast of Appleton Street, Brighton, Mass., Jun. 24, 1918 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, devastation by moths on taking line near Quarter Mile Pond, Medford, Mass., Jul. 15, 1905 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, forestry, moths

Distribution Department, Chestnut Hill Reservoir, shore, Brighton, Mass., Jun. 23, 1912 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, grounds open spaces

Wachusett Reservoir, Road Contract No. 269, east of station 139, West Boylston, Mass., Sep. 9, 1903 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 3, shrubs in Bullough Park, Newton, Mass., May 15, 1903 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir Watershed, W. W. Robinson's Milk Farm, near Spring Street, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 7, 1904 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, watershed sanitary improvement

Wachusett Department, Wachusett-Sudbury power transmission line, New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad crossing, steel towers 48 feet high, span 150 feet; Wachusett Aqueduct, Terminal Chamber in background (Marlborough), Northborough, Mass., Aug. 1, 1918 , waterworks, power lines, aqueducts, construction completed

Distribution Department, Southern Extra High Service Pipe Lines, Section 30, west abutment to West Street Railroad Bridge, Hyde Park, Mass., Jul. 14, 1902 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Weston Aqueduct Supply Mains, Section 7, transporting crushed stone for concrete at west end of tunnel, Newton, Mass., May 19, 1911 , waterworks, water tunnels, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, surface water drains, south from station 15+62 before construction, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 11, 1915 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, downstream face of dam at filter-beds, Sterling, Mass., Jun. 4, 1907 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, filter beds, watershed sanitary improvement

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 3, shrubs in Bullough Park, Newton, Mass., May 15, 1903 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Pipe Lines, condition resulting from break in 48-inch main, Clinton Road near Dean Road, Brookline, Mass., Apr. 17, 1920 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

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

Distribution Department, Weston Aqueduct Supply Mains, break in 48-inch main at rear of No. 1874 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, Mass., Nov. 6, 1915 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Wachusett Department, Wachusett-Sudbury power transmission line, 50-foot pull-off pole, crossing and recrossing aqueduct at sharp curve, Wachusett Aqueduct, embankment section, Berlin, Mass., Aug. 1, 1918 , waterworks, power lines, aqueducts, construction completed

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, Half Mile Road Extension, looking northerly from near the Gatehouse, Stoneham, Mass., Jul. 19, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, Shrewsbury Road, Section 1, east of station 110, West Boylston, Mass., Oct. 15, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 3, Blake Street, Newton, Mass., May 15, 1903 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Commonwealth Ave. sewer and gravel train , Construction, Sewers Edgar Sutton Dorr Photograph Collection

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 3, Colby Street, Newton, Mass., May 14, 1903 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Sudbury Department, Joseph Burnett's Estate, drainage ditch, Southborough, Mass., Dec. 6, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, real estate

Wachusett Reservoir, Shrewsbury Road, Section 3, west of station 245, flushing and rolling, Boylston, Mass., Sep. 6, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, steamrollers

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, surface water drains, trench excavation south from station 2+50, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 11, 1915 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Northern Extra High Service Pipe Lines, Section 45, looking south from station 5+50 in Park Avenue, towards Arlington Standpipe, Arlington, Mass., Nov. 21, 1919 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites, water towers

Wachusett Reservoir, Quinapoxet River concrete dam, Oakdale, West Boylston, Mass., Nov. 13, 1905 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, rivers, dams

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