Sudbury Dam Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sudbury Dam Historic District
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The Sudbury Dam gatehouse
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Framingham and Southborough, Massachusetts |
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| MPS | Water Supply System of Metropolitan Boston MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002265 |
| Added to NRHP | January 18, 1990 |
The Sudbury Dam Historic District is a special area in Framingham and Southborough, Massachusetts. It's located near the Sudbury Reservoir and Massachusetts Route 30. This district includes the Sudbury Dam, also called the Fayville Dam. The dam helps create the reservoir.
This historic area also has several old buildings and structures. These structures are important because they show how the water supply system for Greater Boston grew over time. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it's a place worth protecting because of its history.
Contents
What is the Sudbury Dam?
The Sudbury Dam was built in 1894. Its main job was to hold back water from the Stony Brook branch of the Sudbury River. The dam has a very long earthen wall, about 1,800 feet (550 meters) long. It also has a concrete wall inside and a spillway that is 300 feet (91 meters) wide. A spillway is where extra water can flow out safely.
How the Dam's Gatehouse Works
There is a special building called a gate chamber on the dam. It was designed by Wheelwright & Haven. At first, this gate chamber controlled water flowing towards Framingham Reservoir No. 3. Later, in 1907, it was changed to control water for the Weston Aqueduct too.
Power from the Dam
Between 1916 and 1917, the dam was updated again. This time, it was set up to make hydroelectric power. This means it used the force of moving water to create electricity. The dam made power until the 1970s. After that, the equipment for making electricity was removed.
Important Buildings in the District
The Sudbury Dam Historic District has several other interesting buildings. These buildings show how the water system for Boston developed over many years.
The Storehouse Building
Just northeast of the dam is a storehouse. It was built in 1900. This building was used to keep large wooden planks. These planks helped control the flow of water. When the dam started making electricity, this storehouse was changed to hold electrical equipment.
Head Houses for Water Flow
Below the dam, you can find the head house for the Weston Aqueduct. It was built in 1903. This building was designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge. They made it look similar to the older gate house on the dam.
Next to the Weston Aqueduct head house is another important building. This is the head house for Shaft #4 of the Hultman Aqueduct. It was built between 1939 and 1940. The Hultman Aqueduct is an underground tunnel that carries water from the Wachusett Reservoir. It's a key part of Boston's water system. This head house was designed by Densmore, LeClear & Robbins to match the older buildings.
Other Buildings in the Area
There are also two newer buildings in the district. They were built in the 1970s and look different from the older structures. You can also see a few old farm buildings from the 1800s. These farm buildings were moved to this spot when the dam was being built.
Bridges in the Historic District
The district also includes two bridges that are part of its history.
Route 30 Bridge
The older bridge carries Massachusetts Route 30 over the open water channel below the dam. It was built in 1898. This bridge is made of concrete with two arches and is covered in granite stones.
Access Road Bridge
The second bridge is a single-arch bridge. It's made of similar materials to the Route 30 bridge. This bridge carries an access road. It helps people get to the Weston Aqueduct head house. It was built between 1902 and 1903.
