Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-23


The heaviest fall of rain ever witnessed in
this vicinity occurred on Tuesday afternoon
in the towns OF West Cambridge, Belmont,
Waltham, and that vicinity. The windows of
heaven were opened and the rain descended,
and the floods came, deluging the country for
miles around. Never within the recollection
of men now living in that vicinity, has such a
vast body of water fallen upon the earth in so
short time, and accompanied by such serious
damage to farms, highways, and other works.
The valuable market farms in West Cambridge
and Belmont have suffered almost beyond es.
| innate by the freshet. 1t is from these gar
dens the Boston market is supplied with the
luxuries of the season, and the damage to
them will materially affect the supply of veg
etables and other products of the soil The
gardens in West Cambridge mostly border on
Fresh Pond, while those in Belmont lie along
the margin of rich and extensive meadows.
The territory lying principally ON the hillside
| sloping to Spy Pond, the crops were exposed
| to the powerful currents of water which forced
| channels to the lake, through the cultivated
soil Down this extensive rainshed, the wa.
tiers, increasing in volume and force as they
sped onward, swept with iriepressible fury
washing from their fertile beds crops ripe for
the harvest undermining walls, submerging
gardens and meadows, and deluging whole
territories of meadows.
In Spring Valley, in a deep and rugged
gorge, opposite the estate of George II. Gray,
an immense volume, accumulated from the
hill side opposite, rushed with such impetus
as to wash portion of the road out into the
pond, where an artificial island was formed OF
| gravel and earth. The fine estate of Mr..
| Gray, his avenues, terraces and gardens were
considerably damaged. The grounds Of Chas
| Hill and Edward H. Chapman were badly
washed, their crops filed with gravel and
quite ruined The next estate which suffered
was that of Addison Gage, whose garden and
carriage way was considerably cut up. Be
yond this came the residence of Charlie.
Orchard, over whose grounds a torrent of wa
ter descended to the pond. On tile opposit,
side of the street. The terraces of Mr. Birch
ard were cut down, blind drain broke up il
several places, and his carriage way badl,
washed. The damage to his estate is various
ly estimated at from $500 to $780, Proceed
ing toward Belmont, the next considerable
damage was sustained by C. Newell Frost
whose profitable market garden was exposet
to the full force Of the freshet. The water
ran with such force as to carry barrels, farm
ing tools, and crops over stone wall tire
feet high across the road and down Brighton
street Deep burrows were cut in the vegeta
bic beds, and onions which before were frml,
rooted i'll the soil were washed down against
fence, beneath which the food oozed away
The rich alluval from the garden OF Mr.
Frost was washed down and deposited in tn,
street; and heavy stone wall, enclosing hi
estate, was washed away. His damag,
amounts to several hundred dollars.
IL is estimated that the damage to the streets
in West Cambridge alone will amount to So,
! (Nm. The roads n Ralp1onf op6