The Grange advance., 1874-07-15
ANOTHER. RESERVOIR DISASTER
In Hampshire County, Mass.

In Hampshire County, Mass.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, July 13.-De-
tails are coming to hand of second
food in Hampshire county, Mass. :,
caused by the giving way OF the reser'
voir Of the factory at the village of
Middlefield. The Union gives the fol-
lowing particulars in this noon's edi-
ton:
The reservoir was situated on Mid
dlefield brook, which empties into the
west branch Of Westfeld river st Md
dlefeld Switch. 1t covered nearly q
hundred acres and was built about
thirty years ago by Uriah Church, faith.
er of the prefent owner. The reser-
voir was made by raising the main
road from Middledeld Centre to North
8eckel Hills, on either side of the
steeam, forming the sides of the reser-
voir. The darn was raised about TWEEN
ty feet, for distance of from thirty to
forty rods. The dam gave way before
it was finished, but since its compile
ton it has been regarded as safe. For
the purpose of furnishing additional
water for large new mill now beirg
erected it was the intention to raise the
cam two feet the present season.
The reservoir was used for the stor
age Of water for Church Bros, running
two broadcloth mills; for VIM. Blush,
felloe, thill and stave factory; and for
mill owned by Oliver Blush, and for.
merly used as q wooden mill, but lately
as q grist mill. These were all mills
situated on Middlefeld branch below
the reservoir. Between Middlefeld
switch and Chester there is, upon the
west branch of Weetfeld River, into
which the Middlefeld stream enters,
the West woolen mill, formerly used as
shoddy mill, and at Chester there is
Hampden Emery mill.
From Middlefeld switch the food
poured down towards Chester, where
it did very serious damage. The water
swept over farms, gardens and woods
and several houses were moved. The
heaviest loss at Chester is that of DR..
Hermans Lucius, who estimates his
loss at $4,000, by the partial sweep
ing away of his emery mill. The water
went through tie lower story, carrying
off about $50, 900 worth of emery. The
water also did considerable damage to
the Hanover Edge Tool Company.
The water power Of this company is
entirely destroyed. The Lucius farm,
of fifty acres, is badly damaged; also
the farm of Newton Coles.
Nearly all of the valley residents in
the vicinity of Chester have suffered
more or less by damage to farms and
gardens, Bradford Palmers's barn and
and Sam. L. Otis shoe shop were moved
some distance, and VIM. Fay & Sons
furniture warehouse were badly flood
ed. The out.buiiding was undermined
and turned partly around.
The high water continued at Chester
about an hour.
The town Of Chester suffers heavily
in the loss of bridges and damage to
roads. Four bridges were carried away
and to replace these bridges will cost
about $40, 900; besides several thou.
sand to repair roads.
The Boston & Albany railroad is
very badly damaged for . distance
Of nearly twenty miles. Every bridge
between Middlefeld and Huntington is
wholly or partly destroyed. The road
bed is also washed out in many places
and travel between this city and Alba.
ny will be suspended for several DAYS.
The wires are still down between
Mlddletield and Chester, and no def
mite information has been teceived as
to the loss of life at Blush Hollow,
which it is now thought must have
been considerable.
SPRINGFIELD, July 13.-A special
dispatch to the Union from Chester
gives the following additional particu.
lars of the food:
About twelve years ago second res
ervoir was built about three miles fur.
ther up the stream near Church Bros. =
This was smaller than the lever one
and covered from fifty to eigty acres.
This upper reservoir broke away first
and swept over the lower reservoir with
an immense volume Of water, making
a break of about four rods in the high.
way dam of the lower reservoir.
The upper reservoir was built of
earth and the whole dam suddenly
gave away. Harry Meacham was at
the reservoir at the time, and made
haste to warn the people at Blush Hol-
low. His warning and the fact that but
q part of the lower reservoir dam rave
way, prevented loss of life. and also