Ashland Dam and Spillway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ashland Dam and Spillway
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ashland, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 14 acres (5.7 ha) |
| Built | 1885 |
| MPS | Water Supply System of Metropolitan Boston MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002289 |
| Added to NRHP | January 18, 1990 |
The Ashland Dam and Spillway is a historic site in Ashland, Massachusetts. It's located at the northern end of the Ashland Reservoir within Ashland State Park. The Ashland Reservoir was created in 1885. It was built to hold back water from Cold Spring Brook, which flows into the Sudbury River. This dam and spillway were a key part of Boston's second major project to get drinking water. They were officially recognized and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Contents
What is the Ashland Dam and Spillway?
Ashland State Park is located near West Union Street in Ashland, Massachusetts. The main part of the park is the area that was once the Ashland Reservoir. The dam and spillway are at the northern end of this area. From here, Cold Spring Brook flows north to join a part of the Sudbury River.
How Was the Dam Built?
The dam is an earthen wall, meaning it's made of packed earth. It stands about 83 feet (25 meters) above the bedrock below. It is also about 54 feet (16 meters) higher than the water level in the reservoir. Inside the dam is a concrete wall. This wall is about 8 feet (2.4 meters) thick at the bottom and 2.5 feet (0.76 meters) thick at the top.
What is the Spillway?
The spillway is next to the eastern end of the dam. It's built from rough granite stones. It also has a series of steps made of granite set in concrete. The spillway is quite long, measuring about 630 feet (190 meters). It was designed to look like a natural stream flowing down through the landscape. Originally, a gatehouse stood on top of the dam, but it was taken down in 1976.
History of the Ashland Dam
The Ashland Dam and Spillway were built in 1885. They were some of the last parts of Boston's second big water supply system. This system collected large amounts of water from the Sudbury River. Most of this water came from areas like Framingham, Massachusetts. From there, the water was sent to Boston through the Sudbury Aqueduct.
How Water Was Moved
Water collected by the Ashland Dam was first sent to the aqueduct. This happened through two large pipes, each 48 inches (120 cm) wide. By 1927, the reservoir became a backup water source for the system. A new pipe was laid to send its water into the Sudbury Reservoir. However, this pipe was never actually used.
The Park Today
The reservoir and the land around it were later given to the state. Today, the area is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. It is now a popular state park where people can enjoy nature.
