Mystic Water Works facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mystic Water Works
Mystic Pumping Station |
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The water works in 2009
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Alewife Brook Parkway at Capen St., Somerville, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1863 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | City of Somerville MPS, Water Supply System of Metropolitan Boston MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001227,89002255 |
| Added to NRHP | September 18, 1989 and January 18, 1990 |
The Mystic Water Works, also called the Mystic Pumping Station, is a historic building in Somerville, Massachusetts. You can find it at Alewife Brook Parkway and Capen Street. The city of Charlestown (which is now part of Boston) built it between 1862 and 1865. It's a great example of how cities handled their water supply in the mid-1800s. This building has been listed twice on the National Register of Historic Places because of its historical value.
Contents
What is the Mystic Water Works?
The Mystic Water Works building is on the south side of the Mystic Valley Parkway. It's just east of where the Alewife Brook Parkway meets it. This spot is also near where Alewife Brook flows into the Mystic River. It's a large building, about one and a half stories tall. It's made of strong brick and built in a style called Romanesque Revival. It also has a special kind of roof called a mansard roof.
Building's Design and Changes
When it was first built, the main part of the building had nine sections, or "bays." In 1870, two more bays were added to the east side. Then, in 1895, five more bays were added to the west. These additions were built to match the original style of the building. This shows how the building grew as the water system expanded over time.
History of the Mystic Pumping Station
The city of Charlestown built this facility to help get water from the Mystic Lakes. They built a dam to create a steady water supply. The city of Somerville was also allowed to use this water system. This made the Mystic Water Works Somerville's very first city water supply.
Who Owned the Water Works?
In 1874, Charlestown became part of Boston. Because of this, Boston's water authority took over the building. This authority later became known as the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC). When the building first opened, it had two steam-powered engines. These engines could move a huge amount of water, about 13 million gallons every day!
Expanding the Water System
The additions to the building were made to hold more pumps. This was needed as the water system grew. For example, the town of Everett was connected to the system in 1870. More expansion happened in 1895. The MDC stopped using the facility in 1912, and its old machinery was removed.
New Uses for the Building
During World War I, the building was used as offices. In 1921, it was changed into a machine shop. It was still being used as a machine shop by the MDC when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the building is empty, and the city of Somerville owns it.
Modern Renovation
In 2016, the city of Somerville started a new project. They began turning the old water works into affordable homes for senior citizens. The outside of the building was carefully restored to look like it used to. Some of the original features inside were also kept. This renovation was finished in November 2017, giving the historic building a new purpose.
