Wachusett Dam: Difference between revisions

Wachusett Dam
Wachusett Dam
	Wachusett Dam at Clinton
Official name	Wachusett Reservoir Dam
Location	Clinton, Massachusetts, USA
Coordinates	42°24′13″N 71°41′16″W / 42.40361°N 71.68778°W
Construction began	1897; 127 years ago
Opening date	1905; 119 years ago
Operator(s)	MWRA
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Nashua River
Height	205 ft (62 m)
Length	965 ft (294 m)
Reservoir
Creates	Wachusett Reservoir
	Wachusett Dam Historic District
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	U.S. Historic district
Location	Clinton, Massachusetts
Architect	Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge; Olmsted Brothers
MPS	Water Supply System of Metropolitan Boston MPS
NRHP reference No.	89002269
Added to NRHP	January 18, 1990

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The Wachusett Dam in Clinton, Massachusetts, impounds the Nashua River, creating the Wachusett Reservoir. Construction started in 1897^[2] and was completed in 1905. It is part of the Nashua River Watershed.

This dam is part of greater Boston's water system, maintained and controlled by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Its discharge is into the Nashua River. When it was completed in 1905, the Wachusett Reservoir was the largest public water supply reservoir in the world.^[2] At that time, the Wachusett Reservoir Dam was the largest gravity dam in the world as well.

Construction

The Metropolitan Water Board selected the south branch of the Nashua River in Clinton as the best site for Boston's new water supply over New Hampshire's Lake Winnipesaukee, Maine's Sebago Lake, and the Merrimack River.^[2]

Churches, factories, homes, and schools within the valley had to be knocked down or moved. Roads and rail lines had to be relocated; a railroad tunnel and trestle had to be built in order to relocate the Central Massachusetts Railroad, and over four thousand bodies had to be dug up and moved in the local Catholic cemetery.^{[citation needed]} The project brought thousands of immigrants to the area for work.

The dam created the world's largest water supply reservoir at the time.^[2] It is still considered the largest "hand dug" dam in the world today.^{[citation needed]}

Early problems

A static liquefaction flow failure occurred in the upstream slope of the North Dike of Wachusett Dam near Clinton, Massachusetts on April 11, 1907 during the first reservoir filling. The fine sands of the upstream dike shell liquefied and flowed approximately 100 meters horizontally into the reservoir.

Gallery

Wachusett Dam outlet
The reservoir side of the dam
The plaque on the dam
Rough-hewn rocks lining the reservoir
The reservoir itself
The dam from downstream

References

^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d History: Wachusett

External links

Wachusett Dam at Structurae
USGS

[nris-1] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.

[mwra-2] History: Wachusett

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Dam in Massachusetts}}
-{{Infobox_Dam
+{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
-|dam_name=  Wachusett Dam
+{{Infobox dam
-|image= Wachusett-dam.jpg
+| name                 = Wachusett Dam
-|caption= Wachusett Dam at [[Clinton, Massachusetts|Clinton]]
+| image                = Wachusett-dam.jpg
-|official_name=  Wachusett Reservoir Dam
+| image_caption        = Wachusett Dam at [[Clinton, Massachusetts|Clinton]]
-|crosses= [[Nashua River]]
-|reservoir= [[Wachusett Reservoir]]
+| name_official        =  Wachusett Reservoir Dam
+| dam_crosses          = [[Nashua River]]
-|locale= [[Clinton, Massachusetts|Clinton]]
+| res_name             = [[Wachusett Reservoir]]
-|maint= [[Massachusetts Water Resources Authority|MWRA]]
+| location             = [[Clinton, Massachusetts|Clinton]], [[Massachusetts|Massachusetts, USA]]
-|length= 965 ft
+| operator             = [[Massachusetts Water Resources Authority|MWRA]]
-|height= 205 ft
+| dam_length           = {{convert|965|ft|abbr=on}}
-|width=
+| dam_height           = {{convert|205|ft|abbr=on}}
-|began= 1897
+| dam_width_base       =
-|open= 1905
+| construction_began   = {{start date and age|1897}}
-|closed=
+| opening              = {{start date and age|1905}}
-|coordinates= {{Coord|42|24|13|N|71|41|16|W|region:US_type:landmark}}
+| coordinates          = {{coord|42|24|13|N|71|41|16|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
-|lat=
+| extra                = {{Infobox NRHP
-|long=
+ | embed = yes
-|extra=
+ | name = Wachusett Dam Historic District
-}}
+ | nrhp_type = hd
-{{Infobox_nrhp | name =Wachusett Dam Historic District
-  | nrhp_type = hd
+ | nocat = yes
-  | image =
+ | image =
-  | caption =
+ | caption =
-  | location= [[Clinton, Massachusetts]]
+ | location = [[Clinton, Massachusetts]]
-  | locmapin = Massachusetts
+ | locmapin = Massachusetts#USA
-  | area =
+ | area =
-| architect= [[Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge]]; [[Olmsted Brothers]]
+ | architect = [[Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge]]; [[Olmsted Brothers]]
-| architecture= No Style Listed
+ | architecture =
  | added = January 18, 1990
+ | mpsub = Water Supply System of Metropolitan Boston MPS
- | governing_body = [[Massachusetts Water Resources Authority]]
+ | refnum = 89002269<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a|dateform=mdy}}</ref>
- | mpsub=Water Supply System of Metropolitan Boston MPS
+ }}
- | refnum=89002269
-<ref name="nris">{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
 }}
-The '''Wachusett Dam''' in [[Clinton (town), Massachusetts|Clinton]], [[Massachusetts]] impounds the [[Nashua River]] creating the [[Wachusett Reservoir]].  Construction started in 1897<ref name="mwra" /> and was completed in 1905. It is part of the [[Nashua River Watershed]].
-This dam is part of greater Boston's water system, maintained and controlled by the [[Massachusetts Water Resources Authority]] (MWRA). Its discharge is into the [[Nashua River]]. When it was completed in 1905, the Wachusett Reservoir was the largest public water supply reservoir in the world. <ref name="mwra">[http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/04water/html/hist4.htm History: Wachusett]</ref> At that time, the Wachusett Reservoir Dam was the largest [[Gravity_dam#Gravity_dams|gravity dam]] in the world as well.
+The '''Wachusett Dam''' in [[Clinton (town), Massachusetts|Clinton]], [[Massachusetts]], impounds the [[Nashua River]], creating the [[Wachusett Reservoir]]. Construction started in 1897<ref name="mwra" /> and was completed in 1905. It is part of the [[Nashua River Watershed]].
+This dam is part of greater Boston's water system, maintained and controlled by the [[Massachusetts Water Resources Authority]] (MWRA). Its discharge is into the [[Nashua River]]. When it was completed in 1905, the Wachusett Reservoir was the largest public water supply reservoir in the world.<ref name="mwra">[http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/04water/html/hist4.htm History: Wachusett]</ref> At that time, the Wachusett Reservoir Dam was the largest [[Gravity dam#Gravity dams|gravity dam]] in the world as well.
 ==Construction==
-The Metropolitan Water Board selected the south branch of the Nashua River in Clinton as the best site for Boston's new water supply over New Hampshire's [[Lake Winnepesaukee]], Maine's [[Sebago Lake]], and the [[Merrimac River]].<ref name="mwra" />
+The Metropolitan Water Board selected the south branch of the Nashua River in Clinton as the best site for Boston's new water supply over New Hampshire's [[Lake Winnipesaukee]], Maine's [[Sebago Lake]], and the [[Merrimack River]].<ref name="mwra" />
-Churches, factories, homes, and schools within the valley had to be knocked down or moved. Roads and rail lines had to be relocated; a railroad tunnel and trestle had to be built in order to relocate the Central Massachusetts Rail Line, and over four thousand bodies had to be dug up and moved in the local Catholic cemetery.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} The project brought thousands of immigrants to the area for work.
+Churches, factories, homes, and schools within the valley had to be knocked down or moved. Roads and rail lines had to be relocated; a railroad tunnel and trestle had to be built in order to relocate the [[Central Massachusetts Railroad]], and over four thousand bodies had to be dug up and moved in the local Catholic cemetery.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} The project brought thousands of immigrants to the area for work.
 The dam created the world's largest water supply reservoir at the time.<ref name="mwra" /> It is still considered the largest "hand dug" dam in the world today.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}
 ==Early problems==
-A static liquefaction flow failure occurred in the upstream slope of the North Dike of Wachusett Dam near Clinton, Massachusetts on April 11, 1907 during the first reservoir filling. The fine sands of the upstream dike shell liquefied and flowed approximately 100 meters horizontally into the reservoir. This caused many Clinton residents considerable concern. However, the project’s Chief Engineer, [[Frank E. Winsor]], assured the townsfolk that everything was okay. This event remains controversial. At least one engineering study claims that the initial failure is a precursor to the dam’s future failure.  However, it has now stood for over one-hundred years.
+A static liquefaction flow failure occurred in the upstream slope of the North Dike of Wachusett Dam near Clinton, Massachusetts on April 11, 1907 during the first reservoir filling. The fine sands of the upstream dike shell liquefied and flowed approximately 100 meters horizontally into the reservoir.
 ==Gallery==
 <gallery>
 Image:Wachusett-dam-outlet.jpg|Wachusett Dam outlet
-Image:Wachusett-dam-resevoir-side.jpg|The reservoir side of the dam
+Image:Wachusett Dam reservoir side.jpg|The reservoir side of the dam
 Image:Wachusett-dam-plaque.jpg|The plaque on the dam
-Image:Wachusett-resevoir-rock-lining.jpg|Rough-hewn rocks lining the reservoir
+Image:Wachusett Dam reservoir side 2.jpg|Rough-hewn rocks lining the reservoir
-Image:Wachusett-resevoir.jpg|The reservoir itself
+Image:Wachusett reservoir.jpg|The reservoir itself
+Image:Wachusett Dam, Clinton MA.jpg|The dam from downstream
 </gallery>
+==See also==
+*[[Wachusett Aqueduct]]
+*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County, Massachusetts]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 61: / Line 66: @@
 ==External links==
+{{commons category}}
-* {{Structurae|id=s0001117|title=Wachusett Dam}}
+* {{Structurae|id=20001117|title=Wachusett Dam}}
 * [http://erp-web.er.usgs.gov/reports/annsum/vol46/ep/04hqgr0076.pdf USGS]
 {{Massachusetts}}
+{{National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts}}
+{{Authority control}}
-{{Registered Historic Places}}
 [[Category:Dams in Massachusetts]]
-[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts]]
+[[Category:Historic districts in Worcester County, Massachusetts]]
-[[Category:Dams on the National Register of Historic Places]]
+[[Category:Buildings and structures in Clinton, Massachusetts]]
-[[Category:Worcester County, Massachusetts]]
+[[Category:Dams completed in 1905]]
+[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Worcester County, Massachusetts]]
+[[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts]]
+[[Category:Dams on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts]]
+[[Category:1905 establishments in Massachusetts]]

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