Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
WNS 1100.20 |
Title |
Waterways Collection |
Collection |
Subject Collections |
Object Name |
Records |
Scope & Content |
This collection contains materials formerly kept by the Winchester Historical Society, to which have been added newer items, on the subjects of Winchester's river and ponds. Significant items in this collection are the 1911 and 1928 reports by Herbert Kellaway recommending improvements to the river and ponds, as well as the reports on the Aberjona River Improvement Program which was begun in 1998 and continues to the present. |
Admin/Biographical History |
The Aberjona River is one of Winchester's most important natural landscapes. It enters from Woburn and empties into the Mystic Lakes. Its main tributary is Horn Pond Brook, which flows from Horn Pond in Woburn to Wedge Pond, an outlet of which connects with the river near Shore Road. The brook's main tributary is Russell Brook, which is now culverted. Another tributary to the Aberjona is Sawmill Brook, which now flows from the North Reservoir gate, enters a culvert near Highland Avenue, and empties into the river at the Washington Street bridge. Ponds which have been part of the river include the basin at Davidson Park, Aberjona Pond (piped under the high school field), Judkins Pond (partially filled to build a high school), Mill Pond, and Wedgemere (by Bacon Street). Leonard Pond was originally part of the river but was disconnected for the purpose of creating a swimming pond. Big and Little Winter Pond are separate from the river system. Pollution and flooding have been major issues with the river. The Town has undertaken four major river improvement programs, in the 1890s the creation of Mystic Valley Parkway, with the Metropolitan Parks Commission and City of Boston; Mill Pond rehab in the 1910s, supervised by the Winchester Waterways Committee with Herbert Kellaway, landscape architect; northern Aberjona improvements in the 1930s, Winchester Waterways Committee with Herbert Kellaway, landscape architect; and the Board of Selectmen's Flood Mitigation Program begun in 1998. Along with a description of the river, these have been summarized in the Knight Report. Three artificial reservoirs in the Middlesex Fells supply drinking water for Winchester. The North Reservoir opened in 1874. In 1880 and 1890, funding was approved for the South Reservoir. The Middle Reservoir followed. High service tanks were built in 1885 near the North Reservoir, in 1903 on Andrews Hill (replaced in 1912), and near the southern end of Highland Avenue in 1929. The last was moved to a location near the South Reservoir. The Water Commission was first appointed in 1873. A Sewer Commission was created in 1894 and merged with the Water Board in 1907. Charles E. Kendall was one of the Water Commissioners. |
Copyrights |
Permission to publish material from this collection is subject to approval by the Town of Winchester. |
Finding Aids |
A finding aid with detailed information about the contents of the collection is available. Contact the Archives for a copy. |
Search Terms |
Aberjona RIver Fish Committee Flood mitigation Horn Pond Mill Pond Mystic Lakes |
People |
Ayer, Thomas Prentiss Coady, Marie Defeo, Fred L. Hall, Albert Harrison Kellaway, Herbert Kelsey, Richard C. Kendall, Charles Edgar Knight, Ellen Ryerson, William Thompson, Elizabeth A. Turner, Howard M. |
Containers |
Watering Places Ponds - Old mill sites newspaper articles Ponds - Articles Horn Pond Mystic Lake Aberjona River Contamination and other issues Fish Committee/Commission Herbert Kellaway Reports Howard Turner Report Defeo Thesis Camp Dresser & McKee Study Knight Report PAL Reports Environmental Impact Reports |