USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 70
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732
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
December 9, 1874, the City Council adopted an order that his: Honor the Mayor nominate, for confirmation by the City Council, three suitable persons, citizens of Newton, who shall be called Water Commissioners. They shall be charged with the duty of examining the various sources from which Newton may be sup- plied with water for fire and domestic purposes, and of reporting . to the City Council, with as little delay as possible, the best method of obtaining such supply, and the cost of the same.
The Commissioners were promptly appointed and confirmed, viz., Royal M. Pulsifer, Francis J. Parker and Robert R. Bishop. In May, 1875, they made their report to the City Council, recom- mending as a source "a well at a point on Charles River above Pettee's works at the Upper Falls ;" advising the use of a reser- voir for distribution, and estimating the cost at not over $850,000.
The order constituting the Board of Water Commissioners was passed June 2, 1875, and on the 7th of June the Commissioners, the same as above, were chosen by the City Council. Their first. formal meeting was held June 16. The Board was organized by the choice of Royal M. Pulsifer, chairman, and Moses Clark, jr., -
clerk.
On the 12th of July, 1875, it was voted to purchase the Reser- voir site on Waban Hill. On the 25th of October, work on the pump-well was commenced, and October 28th the first pipe was. laid on Washington Street, near Woodland Avenue.
On the 7th of January, 1876, the Commissioners voted to request the City Council to ask of the Legislature authority to take land in the town of Needham, for the Water Works. In com- pliance with the petition, chapter 54 of the Laws of 1876 was. enacted, by which the city of Newton was authorized "to take and hold, by purchase or otherwise, any lands within the town of Needham, not more than one thousand yards distant from Charles. River, and lying between Kenrick's Bridge, so called, and the new bridge near Newton Upper Falls (on Needham Avenue), and. to convey water from the same to and into said City."
The design for the exterior of the engine, boiler and coal-house was prepared by Charles E. Parker, Esq., of Newton, architect, the interior arrangements having been determined by the engineer.
The work of pipe-laying was discontinued for the season, early in December, 1875, and recommenced April 3, 1876. On the occasion of the inspection of the Water Works by the City
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NEWTON WATER WORKS.
Government, November 13, 1876, the filter-basin was in use, the great pumping-engine in operation, the Waban Hill reservoir one- third full, and the hydrants supplied with water along forty-eight miles of street mains. At the close of the working season, 496 services had been laid for the supply of the citizens.
Water was first pumped into the reservoir October 30, 1876. The water is conveyed through the streets of Newton and to the reservoir in cast-iron pipes, of which about fifty-two miles have been laid. The principal and most direct line to the reservoir is a twenty-inch pipe, in Needham Street, Centre Street and Ward Street. Newton Highlands and Newton Centre are on this line. A secondary line, of sixteen-inch and twelve-inch pipe, goes through Oak Street extension, Chestnut, Woodward, Beacon, Washington, Church and Centre Streets, uniting with the twenty-inch line at the west end of Ward Street. This line passes through Newton Upper Falls, West Newton, Newtonville and Wards one and seven. Newton Lower Falls and Chestnut Hill are supplied through eight- inch lines, from the twelve-inch and twenty-inch mains respectively.
In Woodward Street, the pipe of the Newton Water Works passes over the Cochituate aqueduct, which required a new grading of the street for about five hundred and fifty feet.
In the construction of the Sudbury River conduit of the Boston Water Works, the Boston Water Board built culverts under the work at street-crossings, except where the street grade is far above the conduit, so that the Newton water pipes and sewers may pass under without interference. The Newton pipes are laid through such culverts in Chestnut and Boylston Streets at Newton Upper Falls, and in Pleasant and Sumner Streets, Newton Cen- tre. A self-supporting box was made for carrying the four-inch pipe over the railroad bridge in Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, and the pipe was further protected from frost by coverings of hair, felt and tarred paper.
The first service pipes were laid in October, 1876. The number of water takers in 1878 was about 1,600.
The cost of the Newton Water Works to November 1, 1877, was as follows : Pumping Station and appendages, $126,653.16; Reservoir and appendages, $93,991.23 ; Distribution, $487,153.05 ; Service Pipes, laying, etc., $29,096.16 ; Engineering Department, $2,704.46 ; General Account, maintenance, etc., $20,044. Total, $759,642.07. Amount to cover liabilities and not included in the
734
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
above account, $6,515.15. Total cost of works, $766,157.22. The amount of the appropriations was $850,000; the unexpended balance, $83,842.78.
The cost of maintaining and operating the works was estimated by the Commissioners at from $10,000 to $12,000 per annum, in- cluding ordinary repairs. The whole number of applications for water-service to November 1, 1877, was 1,528 ; the whole number of service pipes laid was 1,468 ; the average yearly rate per service was $13.32, indicating, at that date, an income of $16,139.40 per annum, exclusive of that from hydrant service. Including the latter, the gross earnings from the works were estimated by the Commissioners at $21,000 per annum.
PASSAGE OF THE BOSTON CONDUITS THROUGH NEWTON.
LAKE COCHITUATE CONDUIT .- The conduit of the Boston Water Works from Lake Cochituate passes through the whole extent of Newton from west to east, from Charles River, near the Upper Falls, to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. The conduit is about eigh- · teen miles in length, and enters Newton at the Upper Falls, a little . below the village. The ground for this aqueduct was broken August 20, 1846, and water was introduced into the city of Boston with imposing ceremonies October 25, 1848.
The Newton tunnel is excavated through porphyritic rock of extreme hardness, and is 2,410 feet in length. The shaft on the Harbach property (Ward Street), between the houses of the late Mr. N. Richards Harbach and Mr. John W. Harbach, was sunk to a depth of a little over eighty feet. Several specimens of copper were found in this shaft.
The Chestnut Hill Reservoir, at the time of its construction, was situated in the towns of Newton and Brighton ; but by a subse- quent cession of territory, it is now within the limits of Boston. Beacon Street, which formerly ran directly across the valley, was turned from its course, to allow the building of the reservoir. The reservoir is in two parts, called the Lawrence Basin and the Bradlee Basin ; together they are two miles and a half in circum -- ference. The land bought by the city of Boston for this structure was two hundred and twelve and a half acres.
Several large claims for damages having been made by persons living in the vicinity of the tunnel in Newton, on the ground that they were deprived of water in their wells in consequence of the
735
SUDBURY RIVER CONDUIT.
construction of the tunnel, it was determined to construct an aqueduct in Newton to furnish these parties with a sufficient sup- Diy of water, and a Company was formed called the Newton Aque- duct Company, with a capital stock of $10,000,- all of which ultimately came to be held in trust for the city of Boston. The Company was organized October 29, 1849, and purchased land for- merly the property of Mr. John Ward, not many yards east of the line of the tunnel. A house was erected, which served for the use of some of the employees, and a reservoir formed beneath the sur- face, at a sufficient elevation, from which a four-inch iron pipe was. laid through the streets ; from this main, branches were taken, leading to five cisterns on different farms,- the cisterns holding three hundred gallons each. On the 22d of October, 1851, the estate on which this reservoir was constructed, called the Hyde Place, from the name of a former owner, was sold, with the nec- essary conditions and restrictions, so that the water rights of the neighboring estates should still be secure.
The Chestnut Hill Reservoir of the Boston Water Works has for its site a natural basin, at a distance of about five and a half miles from Boston State House. The spot is a lovely one. There are cultivated hills around the basin, from which fine views may be had of its winding and graceful lines, and its sparkling sheets of water. The driveway, beginning at the imposing arch at the entrance, is some thirty feet above the surface of the water ; but it gradually drops, as it winds around, until by the time the Lawrence Basin is reached, the roadway is nearly on a level with the reser- voir. The scenery is pleasantly diversified with glimpses of the deep blue water, and groves of trees and plots of green grass. Should the Boston Public Park be extended in this direction, the Chestnut Hill Park will be a fitting culmination of a landscape, beautiful and tasteful in nature and art. And lying, as it ever will, on the borders of Newton, it will continue to be, as it has already become, for its proximity and its elegance, a perpetual benediction,- the favorite drive of the denizens of both Newton and Boston.
SUDBURY RIVER CONDUIT .- The following account of that part of the Sudbury River conduit which is included within the bounds. of Newton was prepared by Mr. F. H. Barrett, engineer of the. Water Works. The paper is an admirable one for its conciseness, accuracy and completeness.
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
The " Sudbury River Conduit," bringing the " Additional Supply of Water " to Boston, is about fifteen and eight-tenths miles long, from Farm Pond in Framingham to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. It enters Newton in the Upper Falls, passes through that village to the north of Newton Highlands, and through Newton Centre to the Reservoir.
The principal features of this work in Newton are the bridge over Charles River in the Upper Falls, and the tunnels near the crossing of Pleasant Street,. and under Chestnut Hill.
The bridge is five hundred feet in length, and consists of seven arches, -- five of thirty-seven feet span ; one, over Ellis Street, of thirty-eight feet; and the large arch, over the river. It is constructed mainly of solid granite masonry,- the interior of the upper portion, beneath the conduit, being brick and concrete, with facilities for draining away any leakage from the conduit.
The large arch, spanning the river, is the second in size on this Continent and one of the largest stone arches in the world. It is segmental in form, one hundred and thirty feet in span, with a radius of sixty-nine feet. The crown is fifty-one feet above the usual surface of the water, and the top of the bridge about seventy feet above the same. The key-stone is five feet in depth, the archstones increasing to six feet at the base, forming a very heavy arch,- the pressure upon the foundation being about 2,900 tons, or about sixteen and one-half tons to the square foot. The foundations of the entire bridge are in the solid rock.
The timber framework upon which the arch was built rested upon five points of support in the bed of the river, and demanded about 110,000 feet of spruce, oak and hard pine timber in its construction. The entire settling of this framework, caused by the weight of the archstones during construction, was only about two inches.
To one standing beneath it, the arch has a very slender and beautiful ap- pearance, being only eighteen feet in width at the crown. There is a re- markable echo in this arch, the human voice being rapidly repeated upwards of fifteen times, and a pistol-shot twenty-five times. A shout, of moderate intensity, is reverberated back with so many and so distinct repetitions, that all the neighboring woods seem to be full of wild Indians, rushing down from the hills, and with their terrible war-whoop ready to dash into view, and annihilate all traces of the surrounding civilization.
The scenery along the river at this point is romantic, and the bridge, very successfully designed to be architecturally symmetrical and pleasing, adds a striking and beautiful feature, attracting many visitors. It was built during 1876 and 1877.
Through the estates of Messrs. Davis and Coffin, near Pleasant Street, Newton Centre, a tunnel was driven, five hundred feet in length. Much diffi- culty was encountered in excavating this tunnel,- the material being quick- sand, coarse running sand and rock, making necessary heavy timber supports, inside of which is built an arch of brick masonry twelve inches in thick- ness.
The " Beacon Street Tunnel," so called from its proximity to Beacon Street, throughout its entire length is cut through the solid rock of the Chestnut
737
SUDBURY RIVER CONDUIT.
Hill ridge, from near Newton Centre to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. It is 4,635 feet in length, and the rock through which it is driven is usually hard conglomerate. But near the westerly end, a large bed of slate was en- countered, and a thousand feet from the easterly end, a mass of disintegrat- ing conglomerate, requiring about two hundred feet of brick arching. The remainder of the tunnel is left as excavated, a floor of concrete being laid on the bottom. Many small seams of soft rock and clay were found, through which a large amount of water enters the tunnel. At one place, considerable quantities of iron and copper pyrites were found.
One shaft was sunk, on the land of the late Hon. F. M. Johnson, about fifty-five feet in depth, to the bottom of the tunnel. Excavation was carried on from each end of the tunnel and from this shaft, east and west. The most approved machinery for the purpose was used. A temporary building was erected near the shaft, in which were set up three boilers; an engine of one hundred and twenty-five horse power, running three pairs of air compressers ;. the hoisting engine for the elevators in the shaft; the pumps for drawing the water from the bottom of the shaft, and the machine shops for repairs. Iron pipes from the compressers ran down the shaft and over the summit of the hill each way, furnishing power for running the drilling machines which perfo- rated the rock rapidly. Very powerful explosives were used, and the debris drawn out on small cars by horses or mules. At the shaft and at the ends were the machines for supplying fresh air to the workmen. The work was begun in September, 1873; tunnelling began about the first of the year 1874, and the two divisions met in July, 1875. The work of the tunnel was finished in November, 1875.
The works around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, although now mainly within the corporate limits of Boston, claim a place in a description of Newton, as a large part of the Reservoir was formerly within the town line.
The new works end in a gate-house near the corner of Beacon Street and Chestnut Hill Road, from which large pipes connect with each of the basins of the Reservoir, with the old aqueduct, and with the supply pipes below the Reservoir.
The beauties of the Reservoir and its drive are well known. They cover about one hundred and twenty-three acres of water surface, and the driveway around them is about two miles and three-quarters in length.
47
CHAPTER LIV.
NEWTON'S CENTENNIAL 1776-1876.
NEWTON, both as a town and a city, has from time to time hon- ored its historical and patriotic anniversaries with fitting celebra- tions. The anniversary of American independence has been recognized by public demonstrations, now in one village and now in another, calling forth and nurturing the patriotic spirit of the people. On the birthday of Washington, especially during the period of the civil war, celebrations, and speeches, and gatherings. of citizens testified to their love of country and their gratitude for the blessings of a free government, and helped to strengthen their attachment to its institutions, and their determination to sustain them. And the celebration of "Newton's Centennial," June 17, 1876, stands out with special prominence among these patriotic occasions. It was the one hundredth anniversary of the day more fully described in the history of Newton in the Revolution, when, in the busy season of the year, the people, in town meeting as- sembled, John Woodward being Moderator, voted to sustain with their lives and fortunes the Declaration of American Indepen- dence, should it be passed by the American Congress. That day, though a century had passed away, was not to be forgotten, nor its memory to miss due honor. The ceremonial was one of so much importance that it is well to present some of the details, as they were printed in the Newton Journal, and afterwards published in an elegant volume by the City Government.
Saturday, June 17, 1876, was a marked occasion in the history of Newton. Throughout the city, various historical points were marked with appropriate inscriptions, - the old church at the Centre, the graves of the earliest pastor of the church; of General Hull and his faithful servant Tillo, the last slave in Newton; the old General Hull mansion; Angier's Corner, etc. Within, Eliot Hall was appropriately decorated, with flags and mottoes, among which were the following :
738
739
NEWTON'S CENTENNIAL.
" HEADQUARTERS, March 20, 1780.
" To Col. Joseph Ward: The favorable sentiments of a good man, and one who has executed diligently and performed faithfully the duties of his station,. cannot fail of being agreeable.
" GEORGE WASHINGTON."
In the rear of the platform in the Hall, was a picture of Bunker Hill Monument, and above it, the motto: "New Town (Cambridge), 1631. Nonantum - Cambridge Village, 1654." "New Town - set off from Cam- bridge -1688." "First public school about 1700." "Newton, 1776." At regular intervals in the festoons of bunting along the front of the gallery were the names of the first settlers,- Richardson, Stone, Kenrick, Cheney, Fuller, Ward, Roger Sherman, Woodward, Hammond, Hyde, Wiswall, Jack- son. A fine portrait of Peter Hammond, one of the first settlers, born April 6, 1776, had a conspicuous place on the platform.
In front was a crayon portrait of Colonel Joseph Ward, presented to the city by several citizens. (See page 742.) Also, an ancient drawing of a scene at the famous liberty tree, in Washington Street, opposite Essex Street, .Boston. Oliver, an English tory, is hanging in effigy, with the patriots rejoic- ing around. The sword of Colonel Michael Jackson, one of Newton's lead- ing men of the days of the Revolution, was conspicuously displayed. On the platform, honored guests of the city, were three grandchildren of Col. Joseph Ward. Governor Rice, on his arrival at the hall, under escort of the Claflin Guard, Captain F. N. Brown, and accompanied by Colonels Kingsbury, Lyman, Tower, Rice and Berry, of his staff, was enthusiastically received by the vast audience. Several of the descendants of the old settlers were dressed in the costume of a hundred years ago. The Charles Ward Post turned out in honor of the occasion.
Thirteen descendants of the original families of Newton, sang at this cele- bration : Mrs. J. S. Potter, Mrs. J. B. Goodrich, Miss Mary Woodward, Mrs. E. P. Wright, Miss Lucretia Fuller, Miss Clarice S. Hyde, Mr. Francis Murdock, Mr. George S. Trowbridge, Mr. J. E. Trowbridge, Mr. W. O. Trowbridge, Miss Cornelia W. Jackson, Miss Louisa Smallwood, Miss Char_ lotte W. Hyde. The first four are great-great-grandchildren of Captain John Woodward.
Thirty-nine pupils of the Newton High School represented the thirty-nine States, under the lead of Mr. George S. Trowbridge. In the galleries of the hall were the female descendants of the old settlers.
Rev. Mr. Meriam was Pastor of the First church during the Revolutionary war, and Dr. Homer at the close. A granddaughter of Mr. Meriam, the widow Preston, was then living on Nonantum Hill. It is highly probable that Rev. Mr. Meriam opened the famous town meeting with prayer.
After music by the Newton Band, the choir and audience sang the hymn, to the tune of Old Hundred, commencing -
" O God beneath Thy guiding hand Our exiled fathers crossed the sea."
Invocation by Rev. W. E. Huntington, of the Methodist church, Newton .. " Hail Columbia" was sung by the school children, the audience joining in
740
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
the chorus. Eichberg's " To thee O country " followed. Prayer by Rev. Dr. D. L. Furber, of the First church, where the meeting in favor of Inde- pendence was held.
Introductory remarks of the Mayor, Hon. Alden Speare :
"On the 17th of May, 1776, on motion of Patrick Henry, the House of Burgesses of Virginia voted to instruct their delegates in Congress to pro- pose to that body to declare the colonies independent of Great Britain.
" On the 7th of June, in accordance with this vote, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, in Continental Congress, made the motion as directed, which motion was seconded and ably supported by John Adams, of Massachusetts. After three days' debate, it was referred to a committee, with the under- standing that they should report near the first of July, when the debate should be renewed and the question decided.
" On the 17th of June, the citizens of Newton assembled in town meeting. Captain John Woodward was chosen moderator. The second article of the warrant read as follows : 'That in case the Honorable Continental Congress should, for the safety of the American Colonies, declare them independent of the kingdom of Great Britain, whether the inhabitants of this town will solemnly engage with their lives and fortunes to support them in the measure.'
" After debate, the question was put, and the vote passed, UNANIMOUSLY, in the AFFIRMATIVE.
" Noble and memorable as was this vote, Newton did not stop with resolves. On the 5th of July, again in town meeting,- no telegraph then to electrify them with the account of the momentous event of yesterday,-the signing of the Declaration of Independence by every member of the Continental Congress, save one - it was voted to pay £6 6s. 8d. to each man ' who passeth muster and goeth into Newton's quota, in the expedition to Canada.'
"'VOTED, to authorize the Treasurer to borrow the money to pay the bounty,' and ' VOTED, that the money the Treasurer shall borrow to pay the bounty of the soldiers aforcsaid SHALL BE ASSESSED on the polls and estates in Newton, and paid into the town treasury by the first of January next.' Thus they assumed all the burdens of their times, and bequeathed only the blessings and benefits which should follow.
" It is said of the Athenians, when the Republic was established under the wise laws of Solon, 'Once more freemen, the Athenians were once more warriors.'
" The citizens of Newton, that they might become and remain freemen, have ever been warriors when the exigency of the times has demanded, whether to defend themselves or their neighbors, from the attacks of the red men of the forest, from the encroachments of king George, or the slave power of the South; and we to-day rejoice that the prayer we once heard offered among the mountains of Pennsylvania has been fully answered,- that the Lord would hasten the day when the last link of the last chain of the last slave on this continent should be broken.
" For this,-for the largest liberty consistent with the rights of all,-for the material prosperity which has been vouchsafed to us, whereby we have been transformed from thirteen feeble colonies, comprising but a portion of
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NEWTON'S CENTENNIAL.
the eastern border of our present domain, now extending from the St. Law- rence to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, including thirty-eight States and nine Territories, - the valuation at that time probably less than six hundred million dollars, now more than fifteen billion; then containing less than three million inhabitants, including five hundred thou- sand slaves, now more than forty million, and not a slave in the land where float the stars and stripes,- for the religious liberty, enabling each to serve God according to the dictates of his own conscience, with no State church to be sustained by taxation,-for the opportunities of education and culture, whereby every son and daughter of America may, and in most of the States must, obtain a fair education,- for the wonderful results of labor and inven- tive genius, as evidenced in the reaper, the power printing-press, the steam- boat, the railroad, the telegraph, and the more than 177,000 patent inven- tions,-for all these, and the more that we have not mentioned, we to-night would be proudly grateful.
" As land silently fades from the vision of the departing mariner, so fades from memory the history of the noble deeds and sacrifices of those who even with their lives have secured to us the inestimable blessing of LIBERTY and its consequent happiness. Of those who took part in that ever memorable town meeting, June 17, 1776, not one remains. But we have assembled to receive instruction from the lives of those who contributed to make this city, this State and this nation what they are to-day; and our teachers are sons of Newton, who, while they have often been called to positions of honor and responsibility, have equally honored their constituency by the fidelity with which they have fulfilled the trusts confided to them."
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