Waterworks Construction History

Vintage photos of aqueduct and reservoir constructions. The images capture historical engineering and labor in water distribution infrastructure.

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, excavation at station 10+00, by means of steam shovel and cars; from the southwest, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 1, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 1, lower part of Outlet Chamber, Weston Aqueduct Outlet Chamber, Southborough, Mass., Sep. 12, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Sudbury Reservoir, Marlborough Brook Filters, diverting weir, Marlborough, Mass., Aug. 28, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, filter beds, watershed sanitary improvement

Wachusett Aqueduct, railroad crossing, Section 6, station 284+, from the west, Northborough, Mass., Oct. 8, 1897 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, rock and pump in main cut-off trench, station 11; from the south, Clinton, Mass., May 23, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, from the west, Clinton, Mass., Aug. 1, 1904 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, excavation at station 10+00, by means of steam shovel and cars; from the southwest, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 1, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 6, fill, west of station 242±, Framingham, Mass., Oct. 8, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Relocation Central Massachusetts Railroad, excavating ledge, east of station 130, Clinton, Mass., Mar. 6, 1903 , waterworks, railroads infrastructure, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, from the west, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 1, 1903 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, excavating at dam site, looking upstream, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 5, 1900 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, drilling core wall trench, Clinton, Mass., Apr. 2, 1904 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, work at dam site, looking down the river, Clinton, Mass., Nov. 1, 1900 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Relocation Central Massachusetts Railroad, rock cut, west of station 86, Clinton, Mass., Nov. 12, 1902 , waterworks, railroads infrastructure, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, secondary cut-off trench, station 2; from the south, Clinton, Mass., Jul. 13, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Relocation Central Massachusetts Railroad, excavating ledge, west of station 125, Clinton, Mass., Apr. 6, 1903 , waterworks, railroads infrastructure, construction sites

Distribution Department, Northern High Service Middlesex Fells Reservoir, Hayward excavator, Stoneham, Mass., Aug. 23, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, secondary cut-off trench, station 2; from the south, Clinton, Mass., Jul. 13, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 6, building concrete arch, easterly from station 262±, Framingham, Mass., Sep. 12, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, excavating rock at West Boylston crossing, from the east, West Boylston, Mass., Feb. 20, 1904 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, Old Stone Church

Wachusett Dam, excavating the waste channel, Clinton, Mass., Dec. 1, 1903 , waterworks, dams, construction sites, spillways

Distribution Department, Northern High Service Middlesex Fells Reservoir, core wall, Dam No. 2, Stoneham, Mass., Sep. 20, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, refilling main cut-off trench, station 9+50; from the west, Clinton, Mass., Jul. 13, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, core trench, Section 1, from the southeast, Stoneham, Mass., Sep. 27, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, excavating the waste channel, Clinton, Mass., Dec. 1, 1903 , waterworks, dams, construction sites, spillways

Wachusett Aqueduct, trench after boulders have been removed, Section 11, station 509+50, from the southeast, Southborough, Mass., Oct. 8, 1897 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Weston Reservoir, Section 2, dam, looking southerly, Weston, Mass., Oct. 7, 1902 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, from the west, Clinton, Mass., Jul. 5, 1904 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Forbes Hill Reservoir, (compare with No. 3285), Quincy, Mass., Oct. 2, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, Northern High Service Middlesex Fells Reservoir, excavation by dredge, Stoneham, Mass., Sep. 6, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Aqueduct, trench after boulders have been removed, Section 11, station 509+50, from the southeast, Southborough, Mass., Oct. 8, 1897 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, from the northwest, Clinton, Mass., Jul. 3, 1905 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, excavating at dam site, from the south, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 17, 1900 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 15, westerly from station 685+50, Weston, Mass., Oct. 7, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 2, Commonwealth Avenue, lowering pipe trench near Cheswick Road, Newton, Mass., Nov. 7, 1902 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 11, easterly from station 448±, Wayland, Mass., Oct. 8, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, excavation at station 10+00, by means of steam shovel and cars; from the northwest, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 1, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, ledge and boulders in the excavation, looking northerly, Clinton, Mass., Mar. 4, 1901 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, double line of 60-inch inlet pipes, Section 6, Stoneham, Mass., Apr. 9, 1900 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, pipes conduits, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, highway bridge at lower end of waste channel, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 4, 1904 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, falsework

Wachusett Dam, looking southeasterly, Clinton, Mass., Jun. 2, 1902 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Weston Reservoir, Section 2, dam, looking northerly, Weston, Mass., Oct. 7, 1902 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, excavation at station 10+00, by means of steam shovel and cars; from the northwest, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 1, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 14, steam shovel, at station 607+, Weston, Mass., Oct. 7, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, rock cut for gate chamber foundation, inlet conduit and 60-inch pipe lines, Dam No. 4, Section 6, from the south, Stoneham, Mass., Nov. 9, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, dams, construction sites

Distribution Department, Northern High Service Middlesex Fells Reservoir, 36-inch force mains, Dam No. 2, Stoneham, Mass., Oct. 7, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 5, aqueduct under railroad at Nobscot, Framingham, Mass., Oct. 8, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston Arch, centers and false work, West Boylston, Mass., Jul. 13, 1904 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, falsework

Wachusett Dam, Waste Weir and Channel, looking south, Clinton, Mass., Aug. 1, 1904 , waterworks, dams, construction sites, spillways

Wachusett Dam, Waste Weir, from the west, Clinton, Mass., Jun. 1, 1905 , waterworks, dams, construction sites, spillways

Distribution Department, Northern High Service Middlesex Fells Reservoir, Gatehouse, from the north, Stoneham, Mass., Jun. 20, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, gatehouses, construction sites

Distribution Department, Northern High Service Middlesex Fells Reservoir, Dam No. 5, Stoneham, Mass., May 25, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, Weston Aqueduct Supply Mains, Section 7, 60-inch main and blow-off near Ventilator Chamber on Cochituate Aqueduct, Newton, Mass., Jun. 29, 1910 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, refilling secondary cut-off trench, station 4+50; from the east, Clinton, Mass., Jul. 13, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, excavating the waste channel, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 1, 1903 , waterworks, dams, construction sites, spillways

Wachusett Dam, westerly end, looking easterly, Clinton, Mass., Jun. 1, 1904 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Distribution Department, Weston Aqueduct Supply Mains, Section 7, 60-inch main and blow-off near Ventilator Chamber on Cochituate Aqueduct, Newton, Mass., Jun. 29, 1910 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 6, building concrete arch, easterly from station 262-, Framingham, Mass., Sep. 12, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, main cut-off trench, station 41; from the east, Clinton, Mass., May 23, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, excavating the waste channel, Clinton, Mass., Mar. 9, 1904 , waterworks, dams, construction sites, spillways

Wachusett Reservoir, building bridge over Stillwater River, Oakdale, West Boylston, Mass., Aug. 3, 1903 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, falsework

Weston Aqueduct, Section 11, backfilling derrick, at station 453±, Wayland, Mass., Oct. 7, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Distribution Department, Hyde Park Pumping Station, excavating, Hyde Park, Mass., Nov. 2, 1911 , waterworks, pumping stations, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, looking northeasterly, Clinton, Mass., Nov. 1, 1902 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Distribution Department, Weston Aqueduct Supply Mains, Section 7, installing plant, easterly end of tunnel; Cochituate Aqueduct, ventilator in background, center, Newton, Mass., Jul. 27, 1910 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 8, Commonwealth Avenue east of Lake Street, laying 60-inch pipe, Brighton, Mass., Nov. 2, 1909 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, westerly portion, surface drain, station 11; from the south, Clinton, Mass., Jul. 12, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, general view of the excavation, looking northerly, Clinton, Mass., Jun. 3, 1901 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, general view of the excavation, looking northerly, Clinton, Mass., Jun. 3, 1901 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Pipe Lines, relaying 48-inch main damaged by electrolysis, Boylston Street near Eliot Street, Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 23, 1910 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, building Quinapoxet River Bridge, arches, Oakdale, West Boylston, Mass., Oct. 14, 1903 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, arch bridges, falsework

Wachusett Reservoir, Worcester Street crossing, West Boylston, Mass., Sep. 18, 1904 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Relocation Central Massachusetts Railroad, rock excavation, east of station 127, Clinton, Mass., Mar. 6, 1903 , waterworks, railroads infrastructure, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, easterly end of excavation, Clinton, Mass., Sep. 8, 1903 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, Waste Weir, from the north, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 4, 1904 , waterworks, dams, construction sites, spillways

Weston Aqueduct, Section 11, easterly from station 448±, Wayland, Mass., Oct. 7, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Distribution Department, Chestnut Hill Low Service Pumping Station, excavation in cofferdam for gatehouse, from the north, Brighton, Mass., Oct. 11, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites, gatehouses

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, cut-off walls and filling in main cut-off trench, station 8; from the west, Clinton, Mass., Jun. 21, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, looking southeasterly, Clinton, Mass., Sep. 2, 1903 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 9, hauling steel pipe up incline, east of road, Wayland, Mass., Aug. 7, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

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

Historic photographs of the Norfolk Naval shipyard located in the Fifth Naval District. Operating under the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy.

Wachusett Reservoir, Dumping Platform No. 2, Section 10, Boylston, Mass., Oct. 6, 1903 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, Low Service Pipe Lines, Section 28, 20-inch pipe near station 33, Mystic Valley Parkway, West Medford, Medford, Mass., May 26, 1899 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Relocation Central Massachusetts Railroad, fill near west abutment, Clinton, Mass., Feb. 3, 1903 , waterworks, railroads infrastructure, construction sites, viaducts

Relocation Central Massachusetts Railroad, fill east of Clamshell Road, Clinton, Mass., Apr. 6, 1903 , waterworks, railroads infrastructure, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 2, trench excavation, looking easterly from station 36+, Framingham, Mass., Jun. 24, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, South Dike, northerly from State Road, Boylston; Clinton, Mass., Aug. 3, 1904 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Distribution Department, Hyde Park Pumping Station, excavating, Hyde Park, Mass., Nov. 14, 1911 , waterworks, pumping stations, construction sites

Historic photographs of the Norfolk Naval shipyard located in the Fifth Naval District. Operating under the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy.

Distribution Department, Chestnut Hill Low Service and High Service Pumping Stations, coal pile and unloading platform; bituminous coal stored outside of bins, Brighton, Mass., Sep. 19, 1918 , waterworks, pumping stations, railroads infrastructure

Distribution Department, Northern High Service Middlesex Fells Reservoir, steam shovel, Stoneham, Mass., Sep. 20, 1898 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Reservoir, North Dike, easterly portion, secondary cut-off, refilling trench, station 14; from the east, Clinton, Mass., Jul. 13, 1899 , waterworks, reservoirs water distribution structures, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, the upper quarry, Boylston, Mass., Nov. 2, 1901 , waterworks, dams, construction sites, quarries extracting complexes

Distribution Department, Low Service Pipe Lines, Chestnut Hill Reservoir, removing 48-inch Venturi meter at station 44-1, Brookline, Mass., Jun. 1, 1917 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, excavating at dam site, looking upstream, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 5, 1900 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Wachusett Dam, looking southeasterly towards lower gate chamber, Clinton, Mass., Jun. 2, 1902 , waterworks, dams, construction sites

Weston Aqueduct, Section 1, pipe work and valves, Southborough, Mass., Oct. 10, 1902 , waterworks, aqueducts, construction sites

Distribution Department, supply pipe lines, Section 2, Commonwealth Avenue, excavating trench near Exeter Street, Newton, Mass., Jun. 27, 1902 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Weston Aqueduct Supply Mains, Sections 6, laying 60-inch main in Commonwealth Avenue near Westbourne Road, Newton, Mass., Jun. 24, 1910 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

Distribution Department, Weston Aqueduct Supply Mains, Section 8, 60-inch pipe trench in Commonwealth Avenue near Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton, Mass., Jul. 9, 1910 , waterworks, pipes conduits, construction sites

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