The story of Worcester, Massachusetts (1910), Part 5

Author: Oflynn, Thomas Francis, 1862-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Boston, Little, Brown, and company
Number of Pages: 216


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THE DEVENS STATUE


A meeting of prominent citizens was called in 1892 at the Worcester Club, at the suggestion of Senator Hoar, to consider the erection of a monument to General Devens. In 1902, at the request of Senator Hoar, the State Legislature passed an act authorizing the cities and towns of Worcester County to contribute money for erecting in front of the Court House a bronze equestrian statue of General Devens.


The County gave $5,000, the City of Worcester $7,500, and the towns and con- tributions of citizens swelled the total.


Contracts were made with Daniel C.


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The Story of Worcester


French and Edward C. Potter for a statue, for a sum not to exceed $30,000, and with George D. Webb for the granite ped- estal, costing $5,800. The cost of the statue complete was $40,000. The monument was dedicated July 4, 1907.


The following inscriptions appear on the pedestal : -


On the west end : -


CHARLES DEVENS Soldier, Orator, Jurist 1820-1891. Major, Third Battalion Mass. Rifles April, 1861.


Colonel, Fifteenth Regiment Mass. Vol. Infantry July, 1861.


Brigadier General, United States Volunteers 1862.


Brevet Major General, United States Volunteers I865.


Associate Justice, Superior Court of Mass. April, 1867. Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Mass. 1873.


Attorney General of the United States 1877.


Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Mass. 1881-1891.


GENERAL DEVENS


THE HOAR AND DEVENS STATUES


Pages 95 and 97


46


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Monuments


On the east end : - To GENERAL DEVENS and the ' Men of Worcester County In the War for the Union 1861-1865.


On the other sides are the names of the Worcester County Regiments, Battalions and Companies, and their cities and towns.


THE SENATOR HOAR MONUMENT


This monument stands on the plot at the northwest corner of the City Hall, and was dedicated June 26, 1908. It bears the fol- lowing inscriptions :


On the west or front face : -


GEORGE FRISBIE HOAR Born in Concord Aug. 29, 1826 Died in Worcester Sept. 30, 1904. Lawyer, Scholar, Orator, Statesman. Citizen of Worcester, For More Than Half A Century. Member of Massachusetts House of Representatives 1852 Member of Massachusetts Senate 1857 City Solicitor of Worcester 1860 Member of United States House of Representatives 1869-1877 Senator of the United States 1877-1904


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On the north face : -


Puritan and Patriot by Inheritance, Unsullied in Character, Lover of Liberty, Champion of the Oppressed His Life Embodied The Traditions of Massachusetts And Of the Founders of the Republic His High Ideals, Zeal for Learning and Constructive Statesmanship Made Imperishable Contributions To A Great Period of American History. This Statue is Raised


By Gifts From Thirty Thousand of his Townsfolk That The People For All Time May be Inspired By The Memory Of His Personal Virtues and Public Service.


On the south face : -


I believe in God, the Living God, in the American People, a Fine and Brave People Who Do Not Bow the Neck or Bend the Knee to Any Other and who Desire No Other to Bow the Neck or Bend the Knee to them. I believe that Liberty, good Government, Free Institutions, cannot be Given by Any One People to Any Other, but Must be Wrought out for Each by Itself, Slowly, Painfully, in the Process of Years or Centuries, As the Oak Adds Ring to Ring. I believe That Whatever Clouds May Darken the Horizon, the World is Growing Better, that Today is Better than Yesterday, and Tomorrow will be Better than- Today.


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Monuments


TABLETS MARKING HISTORICAL SPOTS


There is a tablet marking the Hancock House at the corner of Grove and Lexing- ton Streets : -


Built About 1741 by Thomas Henchman on Lincoln Street and For Many Years Owned by Governor John Hancock Home of Levi Lincoln Attorney-General of the United States, Levi Lincoln Second, and John Davis, Governors of Massachusetts.


Tablet marking the site of the Bigelow Mansion at Lincoln Square : -


On this Site Stood the Mansion of TIMOTHY BIGELOW Leader of the Minute Men From Worcester, April 19, 1775. Colonel of the Fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment.


Tablet on the Isaiah Thomas House, in the rear of Court House Hill : -


Residence from 1785 to 1831 Of ISAIAH THOMAS Patriot, Printer, Author. He Was the Founder Of The Massachusetts Spy And the American Antiquarian Society. Tablet placed in his honor by The Colonel Timothy Bigelow Chapter D. A. R. 1904.


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The Story of Worcester


A bronze star on the City Hall plaza marks the spot where Isaiah Thomas read the Declaration of Independence to the in- habitants of Worcester. A bronze tablet tells this story : -


There July 14, 1776, the Declaration of Inde- pendence was First Publicly Read in New England by Isaiah Thomas, From the Western Porch Of the Meeting-House, Late known as the Old South Church.


A tablet marks the site of the schoolhouse where John Adams taught. (This tablet is placed on the fence between the Court House and the American Antiquarian So- ciety building, on Court Hill) : -


In Front of This Tablet Stood The First Schoolhouse In Worcester Where John Adams


Second President of the United States Taught 1755-1758.


On Heywood Street this inscription is carved in a boulder : -


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Monuments


On This Site In 1713 Major Jonas Rice Made the First Permanent Settlement In Worcester. Placed by The Worcester Society of Antiquity.


On a boulder on Salisbury Street, near Massachusetts Avenue, appears the follow- ing inscription : -


Twenty Feet East of This Stone Stood the House in which GEORGE BANCROFT Historian of America Son of Aaron and Lucretia (Chandler) Bancroft Was born October 3, 1800.


Placed by Citizens of Worcester October 3, 1900.


These inscriptions are on tablets at the easterly entrance to Elm Park: -


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On the left: -


Elm Park " As Thought and Wrought " By EDWARD WINSLOW LINCOLN Park Commissioner 1870-1898 Erected By The Citizens of Worcester 1905.


On the right: -


This Section of Elm Park Containing 27 Acres Deeded to the City of Worcester March 17 And March 20, 1854, By Levi Lincoln and John Hammond Was the First Purchase of Land for A Public Park in the United States.


Two tablets of bronze adorn the main walls of the corridor of the City Hall. The tablet on the north side bears the following inscription written by Senator Hoar: -


Here in 1719 the inhabitants of Worcester erected the House of Worship rebuilt in 1763 taken down in 1887. From its Porch Isaiah Thomas July 14, 1776, read to the People the Declaration of Independence.


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Monuments


It was in that House later known as the Old South Meeting House and just north where stood until 1898 the Hall built in 1825 that the People of Worcester have governed themselves from the beginning as Town and City in Freedom and Honor


The Common hard by set apart as a Training Field in 1634 was the principal Burial Place of Worcester from 1724 to 1824 Here gathered the soldiers of Worcester County for the War of Independence and the War for the Union.


Here June 28, 1848 was the great Mass Meeting which organized the political Movement begun to preserve to Freedom the vast Territory between the Mississippi and the Pacific and ended by the Abolition of Slavery Throughout the Continent.


The tablet on the south side bears an in- scription giving the dates of erection of


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The Story of Worcester


the City Hall, the names of the architects and the builders, the names of the commis- sion which had charge of the building and some other formal data.


CANNON AT ARMORY SQUARE


Through the efforts of Hon. Daniel E. Denny, Senator George F. Hoar and Gov- ernor John L. Bates, this cannon was se- cured for the city. It was cast in Seville, Spain, in 1798, and was surrendered by the Spaniards at Santiago, Cuba.


Near the breech of the gun is an elaborate monogram, surmounted by a royal crown, - the letters C. A. R. O. probably indicate Charles IV, who was King of Spain in 1798.


The tablet on the base is inscribed as fol- lows: -


" In commemoration of the soldiers and sailors of 1898, this gun, surrendered at Santiago, Cuba, is here erected by the citi- zens of Worcester under the auspices of George H. Ward Post 10, G. A. R., 1904."


ARMORY SQUARE


View showing buildings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, the Woman's Club and the Salisbury School; also the State Armory and cannon captured in the Spanish War.


Page 104


LNVTIVO H.10:OL HONOH TIV


PETERY


MAIN STREET IN 1865


CHAPTER XI


WORCESTER IN THE CIVIL WAR


G REAT excitement prevailed in the city when the news of the fall of Fort Sumter came. At home, on the streets, and in the churches, it was the sole topic of discussion. Political and sec- tarian lines were broken, and all were deter- mined to stand by the flag.


The President called for 75,000 volun- teers. Governor Andrew sent an order to Worcester for her militia to prepare for immediate service. Three companies re- sponded at once - the Light Infantry, the City Guards and the Emmet Guards. The City Guards became Co. A, and the Emmet Guards Co. C of the 3rd Battalion Rifles. They enlisted for three months.


The Light Infantry formed a part of the gallant Sixth Massachusetts Regiment and participated in the memorable march through Baltimore. This regiment had the


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The Story of Worcester


distinction of being the first full regiment of volunteers to report in Washington.


In 1855, the Jackson Guards, later the Emmet Guards, had been disbanded by Governor Gardner of the Know-nothing party. In 1860 they reorganized and drilled in preparation for the war they knew was impending. They were the first organiza- tion of foreign blood to march to the war.


The term of service of the City and Em- met Guards expired July 19, 1861, but the alarm at Washington, caused by the defeat at Bull Run, prevented the official dis- charge.


General Dix said : -


" Gentleman, your term of service ex- pired the 19th and you are entitled to go home. If you say so, I will order you trans- ported tomorrow, but I had rather you would not ask it tomorrow, or for the next ten days. You have done your duty and more."


Every man in both companies responded to this appeal, because they felt they were needed. Upon their discharge they re- turned home and most of them re-enlisted in the regiments then forming in Worcester.


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Worcester in the Civil War


The following regiments were recruited in Worcester - the 15th, 21st, 25th, 34th, 36th, 5Ist and 57th.


The colonel of the 15th Regiment was Charles Devens, whose statue stands in front of the Court House. This regiment took part in the battles of Ball's Bluff, Antietam, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and others.


The 21st and 25th were part of the Burn- side Brigade and later were attached to the Army of the Potomac. They participated in the battles of Roanoke Island, New- bern, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and many other important engagements. The Emmet Guards formed a large part of Co. E of the 25th Regiment and of Co. I of the 50th.


The colonel of the 5Ist Regiment was Hon. A. B. R. Sprague, who was Mayor of Worcester in 1896 and 1897.


The population of Worcester in 1860 was less than 25,000, and she gave to the war the services of 3,927 men, more than one in every eight of the total population.


" They shared in the shifting lot of the Army of the Potomac, from its clouded morning to its brilliant close; in the march-


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The Story of Worcester


ings and fightings of the Shenandoah until every open field and copse became familiar ground; in the early, welcome victories of Carolina; in patient trials along the Gulf; in the turning fortune at New Orleans, Port Hudson and Vicksburg; in the tangled marches and counter-marches of Tennes- see; in every part of the country, in every campaign, not excepting that Napoleonic excursion of Sherman to the sea."


The great commanders have testified to the courage, endurance and discipline of the soldiers from Worcester.


The records of the Massachusetts Volun- teers show that the men from Worcester served under the colors of fifty distinct regi- ments of infantry, five of cavalry and four- teen of artillery. They served in seventeen regiments of other states and in nine of the United States regular army.


BATTLE FLAGS


The flags carried by the following regi- ments, all of which were raised in Worces- ter, the 15th, 21st, 25th, 34th, 36th, 51st, and 57th are kept in a case, which stands


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Worcester in the Civil War


on the second floor of the City Hall, near the Mayor's office.


The flags captured at Newbern, N. C., by Captain Thomas O'Neil of the Emmet Guards, and presented by Major M. J. McCafferty to the Free Public Library, are also in this case.


CHAPTER XII


WORCESTER IN THE SPANISH - AMERICAN WAR


T HE companies of the state militia stationed in Worcester responded to a man when the call for troops came at the outbreak of the Spanish War. Those who did not go with their companies were rejected on account of physical disa- bility (defective eyesight for the most part), or through family responsibilities.


Four Worcester companies took an active part in this war: Co. A, known as the City Guards; Co. C, Light Infantry; Co. H, Wellington Rifles; all of the 2nd Regi- ment; and Co. G, Emmet Guards, of the 9th Regiment.


These companies left for Framingham May 3rd and 4th, 1898, and were mustered into the United States service as volunteer troops.


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The Spanish-American War


The second regiment started for the front on May IIth and the Emmets on May 31st.


The Massachusetts troops were furnished with old-fashioned ammunition and every shot fired revealed the presence of the sol- dier firing. For that reason, the command- ing general ordered the volunteers not to fire, except to prevent the escape of the garrisons in the block houses. Digging trenches and throwing up breastworks was the chief work, and this they were obliged to do without shovels or picks, using knives, plates and fingers.


On the 14th of June news came to the tired soldiers that Santiago had surren- dered. They then prepared to return home. The three companies of the 2nd Regiment arrived in Worcester, August 27th, emaci- ated and malaria-stricken.


The 9th Regiment left Santiago for home Aug. 24th. When the ship arrived at Mon- tauk Point it was met by the health officers, who declared that the regiment was in the worst condition of any returning. After re- maining in camp at Montauk Point (Long Island) for a short time, they were allowed to return to their homes.


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Lieut .- Col. Kellogg of the 10th U. S. Infantry said of the Emmet Guards, who were assigned to serve with his regiment of regulars : " Massachusetts should be proud of such officers and men. I have never wit- nessed in my forty years' service such cool- ness and indifference under fire."


LIEUTENANT EDMUND N. BENCHLEY, U. S. A.


One of the first officers of the regular army to lose his life in the Spanish-Amer- ican War was a Worcester boy, Lieutenant Edmund Nathaniel Benchley.


He was born in Worcester, May 3, 1876, and was educated in the public schools. After graduating from the English High School he received the appointment of cadet at West Point through Congressman Joseph H. Walker, and was graduated number thirty in the class of 1898.


His standing in his class entitled him to a choice of the infantry, cavalry or artillery branches. He chose the infantry because, as he said, it would give him opportunity for active service.


Owing to the scarcity of officers the class was graduated in April, nearly two months


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The Spanish-American War


before the regular date. Benchley was at once commissioned second lieutenant, and assigned to the 6th Regiment Infantry, United States Army.


Lieutenant Benchley was given twenty days' furlough. He came home, and was one of the reviewing party when the local companies of the 2nd and 9th Regiments left Worcester.


His regiment landed in Cuba in the lat- ter part of June. The battle of San Juan took place on July Ist. Several companies of the regiment were separated from the advance portion of the troops while crossing the river under a severe artillery fire, and the colonel wished to have them brought forward at once.


Captain L. W. V. Kennon, Co. E, 6th Regiment Infantry, U. S. A., writing to his father, Mr. Charles H. Benchley, says: - " He," meaning the colonel, " called Lieutenant Benchley and directed him to recross the river and carry orders to the battalion and company commanders to bring their commands forward at once. He started on this important and dangerous duty, and gave the orders to some of the


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The Story of Worcester


officers indicated. He had just given it to one commander when he received a bullet through the heart which killed him in- stantly.


1


" His military career was brief, brave and glorious. He was cool and brave under one of the severest fires ever known, and he performed his duty nobly and gallantly. Had he lived, he would have been brevetted for gallantry in action."


CHAPTER XIII


THE BLACKSTONE CANAL - RAILROADS, WATER AND SEWERAGE


THE BLACKSTONE CANAL


A S early as 1796 the plan of construct- ing a canal from Providence to Worcester, and opening navigable communication between Narragansett Bay and the center of Massachusetts, was dis- cussed. Nothing was done until 1822, when interest in the project was renewed.


It was in 1826 that the first earth was removed in Massachusetts, near Thomas Street, Worcester. In 1828 the canal was opened to navigation. The building of this canal was of far more importance to the public than to the stockholders. It was a failure financially, although it stimulated manufacturing along its banks and assisted materially in the prosperity of Worcester. The canal started in Worcester, between


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The Story of Worcester


Thomas and Central Streets, ran south- erly through the town to Quinsigamond, then followed the course of the Blackstone River to Providence, R. I. Below Quin- sigamond may be seen to-day the tow-path along the banks of the Blackstone. The canal was discontinued in 1848.


The building of this canal led to the opening of two railroads: the Providence and Worcester, and the Boston and Worces- ter.


RAILROADS


The old Boston and Worcester Railroad was the earliest incorporated steam road in Massachusetts and one of the earliest in the country, receiving its charter in 1831. It was completed July 4, 1835. An excursion train of twelve cars, drawn by two engines, arrived in Worcester after a trip of three and one half hours. The engines were wood-burners, and all along the road wood was piled.


The depot was located on Foster Street, a little south of the Worcester Bank Block. The location of the station was changed in 1839 farther down the street to the present site of A. S. Lowell's Block, in order that


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Railroads, Water and Sewerage


the Norwich and Worcester Railroad might run into the same building. The Boston and Worcester ceased using this depot in 1875.


The Western railroad from Worcester to Albany was opened in 1839.


The Norwich and Worcester was com- pleted in 1840, and its freight house was on Park Street. The trains were brought into the depot on tracks running through the Common.


The Providence and Worcester Railroad began operating in 1847, and its trains were run into the Norwich and Worcester depot. The brick building on Green Street was completed in 1854, and was used as a passenger depot.


Upon the completion of the Union Sta- tion in 1875, all the other depots were aban- doned for passenger service.


WATER


When Worcester became a city, the in- habitants relied mainly upon wells and springs for water. A few houses in the vicinity of Summer Street were supplied with water from Bell Pond.


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The Story of Worcester


In 1864 the city voted to bring water from Lynde Brook.


Four reservoirs, the Kettle Brook sys- tem, feed into the Lynde Brook Reservoir through a thirty-inch conduit. All the high service pressure water comes from the Lynde Brook Reservoir.


In 1867, in order to reduce the high pres- sure, the city built Hunt's Reservoir. This was discontinued in 1897, and Parsons's Reservoir took its place. This reservoir balances Tatnuck Brook No. 2, and fur- nishes the low pressure water of Worcester.


There are two large reservoirs in the Tatnuck Brook system.


The Asnebumskit watershed covers an area of ten square miles, and when con- nected with the Tatnuck Brook system, through Kendal Brook, will furnish water sufficient for the needs of double the popu- lation of 1910.


SEWERAGE


Cesspools and private sewers were used in Worcester up to 1866, when the city council authorized the construction of pub- lic sewers. For a number of years the sew-


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age matter was turned into the Blackstone River. The people of the Blackstone val- ley protested and Worcester was obliged to treat the sewage matter chemically. Puri- fication works were built below Quinsiga- mond Village. The liquid, after scientific treatment, enters the Blackstone River, practically free from organic matter.


CHAPTER XIV


PARKS


C ROMPTON PARK, opened in 1888, is situated between Millbury Street and Quinsigamond Avenue. Area, 15 I-4 acres.


Dodge Park, presented to the city by Mr. Thomas H. Dodge in 1890, lies in the northerly section between West Boylston Street and Burncoat Street. Area, 13 acres.


Chandler Hill Park comprises land between Shrewsbury and East Shelby Streets and includes Chandler Hill. Part of this park belonged originally to the state, and was intended for insane hospital pur- poses. The State Legislature granted the land to the city for park purposes in 1887. Area, 80 1-3 acres.


Lincoln Park, on the shore of Lake Quin- sigamond, belongs to Mr. H. H. Bigelow, who has leased it to the Worcester Consol-


ELM PARK


Page 121


INSTITUTE PARK


Page 121


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Parks


idated Street Railroad. It is open to the public.


Elm Park, in the western part of the city, was purchased in 1854 and remained unim- proved for twenty years, until Mr. Edward W. Lincoln, a park commissioner, took charge and made it the finest park in Worcester. Newton Hill was added to the original tract in 1888. Area, 88 acres.


Greenwood Playground lies on Green- wood Street between Tatman and Forsberg Streets, and contains 12 2-3 acres. This park was obtained by purchase in 1905.


Institute Park, lying between Salisbury Street and Salisbury Pond, was presented to the city in 1887 by Hon. Stephen Salisbury. Area, 18 acres.


Lake Park. In 1884 Hon. Edward L. Davis and Mr. Horace H. Bigelow deeded to the city about 110 acres of land bordering on Lake Quinsigamond. Mr. Davis also gave $5,000 to improve the park and erected at his own expense a stone tower, built of rough stones gathered from surrounding land. Area, II0 acres.


Natural History Park, owned by the Worcester Natural History Society, bor-


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ders on Lake Quinsigamond, near the north- ern end. The money to purchase this park was given by Hon. Joseph H. Walker, and Mr. Thomas H. Dodge built the pavilion.


Burncoat Park, near Adams Square, was purchased by the city in 1888. Area, 41 I-2 acres.


University Park, on Main Street, oppo- site Clark University, was acquired by pur- chase in 1887. Area, 14 acres.


Green Hill Park, purchased from the Green heirs in 1905, is the latest addition to the park system. This promises to be one of the finest parks in central Massachusetts. Area, 500 acres.


Hadwen Park. In 1902 Mr. Obadiah B. Hadwen deeded to the city a tract of land containing fifty acres. This tract borders on Curtis Pond. The only condition which went with the gift was that the land should be forever devoted to park purposes. Mr. Hadwen expressed a disinclination to have the park called by his name.


The Common contains 7 3-4 acres.


In addition to the parks, playgrounds have been established on Vernon Street, in Tatnuck, and on Beaver Brook land.


GREEN HILL PARK


Page 122


UNIVERSITY PARK


Clark University is shown in the background.


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Parks


PONDS AND STREAMS


Beaver Brook rises in Holden, flows through the westerly part of the city of Worcester, and joins the Tatnuck Brook.


Bell or Bladder Pond is situated on the top of Belmont Hill and is part of the water system of Worcester. Its name was given on account of its resemblance to a bell.


The Blackstone River. The Tatnuck Brook and Kettle Brook unite below Cur- tis's Dam. From this point to the pond at the central works of the American Wire and Steel Co., north of the grounds of Holy Cross College, the stream is known as the Middle River. The Blackstone River be- gins at the upper end of this pond, flows through Quinsigamond village and empties into Narragansett Bay.


Curtis Pond in New Worcester lies be- tween Webster and Stafford Streets.


Lynde Brook rises in Leicester, flows through Leicester and joins Kettle Brook. It is part of the water system of Worcester.


North Pond, or Indian Lake, lies in the extreme northerly part of the city, and ob- tains its supply from Mill Brook. It is the largest pond lying entirely in Worcester.


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Coes Reservoir lies along Mill Street in the southwesterly part of the city.




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