Arlington Reservoir (Arlington, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Arlington Reservoir (Standpipe)
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Arlington, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1920s |
| Architect | Frederick F. Low |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Arlington MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002676 |
| Added to NRHP | September 27, 1985 |
The Arlington Reservoir is a big tank that holds water. You can find it on Park Circle in Arlington, Massachusetts. It was built between 1921 and 1924. The Metropolitan Water Works (now called MWRA) constructed it. They designed it in a style called Classical Revival. Its main job was to store water for towns like Lexington, and higher parts of Belmont and Arlington.
In 1985, this reservoir was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Reservoir
Why a New Tank Was Needed
Back in 1895, the town of Arlington built a smaller water tank here. It could hold about 550,000 gallons of water. But in 1899, Arlington joined a bigger water system. This old tank was not big enough to supply water to other nearby towns. So, it was only used to help control water pressure.
Building the Current Reservoir
A much larger tank was needed. The current reservoir was built between 1921 and 1924. It can hold a huge 2,000,000 gallons of water! This big tank is inside a round stone building. The Crane Construction Company built it. William E. Foss was the main engineer for the project.
The Reservoir in the Community
"Night at the Tower" Event
On September 7, 2014, something special happened at the reservoir. The Luminarium Dance Company organized a community event. It was called "Night at the Tower." This event celebrated 90 years since the reservoir was finished.
About 300 local people came to watch. There was a live dance performance on the grass. Huge videos were projected onto the tower itself. This was the first time such an event had been held at the Arlington Reservoir.
Community Art and Support
The event also showed 75 images inspired by Arlington. These pictures were made by local kids and adults. They had been created over ten years by the Arlington Center for the Arts.
Merli V. Guerra, who leads Luminarium Dance Company, created and led "Night at the Tower." She is also from Arlington. The event got help from the Arlington Cultural Council. This is a local group that supports art. They get some of their funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is a state agency.
