Wachusett Reservoir- one of the greatest civil engineering marvels in Massachusetts history, is now profiled in a new book from Via Appia Press. Built over the course of eleven years, from 1895 to 1906, plus an additional two years to fill, the project involved thousands of immigrant laborers, millions of Massachusetts dollars, and forever changed the landscape and lives of four towns and their inhabitants. It remains a source of Boston water, the second largest body of water in the Commonwealth, and the largest 'hand-dug' reservoir on the planet. Plugging the South Branch of the Nashua River is an enormous stone dam- the largest in Massachusetts- that resembles the Hoover and Grand Coulee dams, scaled to the size of Massachusetts.

 

This new title is the first book devoted to the reservoir, and encompasses every aspect of the project- Boston's water expansion, planning, and building, along with the local and human impact of the project.  For the people of Clinton, Boylston, West Boylston, and Sterling, Massachusetts, the Wachusett is an integral part of life, and forms a sizable chapter in the history of each town.  This book is 156 pages in length and includes 90 illustrations.

 

WACHUSETT: How Boston's 19th Century Quest for Water Changed Four Towns and a Way of Life is also available at local retailers, including:

 

* Bolton Orchards

* Massachusetts Audubon Gift Shop (Lincoln, Mass.)

* The Paper Store

* Tower Hill Botanic Garden

* The Wellesley Book Smith

* Friends of the Worcester Public LIbrary book store