Year: 1874

Williamsburg Reservoir Company, which included all
the manufacturing establishments the line OF MIL
River from Williamsburg ito Northampton IL was sit'
uated on the east branch OF Mill RIVER about three
miles from the village OF Williamsburg, in the north
eastern corner OF Northampton The stream which sup
piled 1t has its rise only about three miles above
the reservoir and after joining the west branch
at the village OF Williamsburg forms Mill River proper.
which flows throgh Haydenville and Florence aud
emptes into the Connecticut River at Northampton.
The reservoir constructed in the Summer and Fall
OF 1865, though it not filed and used until the
following Spring. Emery B. Wells OF Northampton and
Joel Bassett OF Hampton the contractors and
the cost was $35.000


stone wall was first built, which was stipulated To
rise from width OF eight feet at the base pan to two
feet at the top which latter feet above the bed OF
the stream This wall contracted TO be laid In tho
best known cement and the projectors claimed It would
be as strong single shaft OF granite. Enveloping
this wall on either side q mass of earth. which
soped down the side at angle of 80 degrees,
and the lower side at angle OF t5 degrees; lat
era section Of this earhen support measured about 100
feet at tho base the greater OF which tho
water side. At the center OF the stream,
incOsed In stone wall running al rlshs
angles to the main wall OF the reservoir. ran an
tube of two feet diameter for controlling the How
OF water, extending OF course, few feet beyond TINS
eastern wall at both extreDites OF it's base This wall



the top covering of the stone wall feet IN
depth order to prevent danger from frost and along
its top furnished good driveway The water never
quite the OF the DAM being kept about two
feet below that line by means Of a waste-way at tho
western side. The reservoir covered an area o' ono
hundred and eleven acres. and its average depth was
twenty-four feet.


THE RESERVOIR AFTER THE BREAK-THE MASONRY


WORK ALMOST TOTALLY DEsrRoYED-rHE BED





WITH STONES.


SPRINGFIELD, May 1.-THE scene at the ruins OF
the reservoir is thus described by reporter of Tho
Republican:


All through the center nothing remains OF the high
wall Of and earth which rose TO hight OF 20 foet
in the bed OF the stream. tho stone work running
at right angles with the dam at the bottom which in'
closed the gateway In the bed OF the stream noth-
ing is left. and where the water now flows harm
essy along It's ancient channel, not stone remains
from top to bottom. small portion othe eastern part
OF the reservoir large section OF the western still
remain IN all perhaps sixth OF the original extent,
broken and jagged the edges. Above the eye sweeps
over the bed of the reservoir, tract Oh III
acres, covering the south-easterly corner OF the
OF WILLIAMSBURG near the Conway line This iana
nestled among the hills s for the greater part toeraby
level sopng OF course more less every eide, ana
dotted over large part Of its surface with the stuDps
Of trees that formerly occupied II.


Below the reservoir the sight is most impressive the
vast mass OF suddenly let loose apd dashng DOWN
the narrow valley has wrought such devastation as ono
would not have believed possible without seeinRt 1ho
very bed OF the stream has been cut In places many
feet below its original course and for long
distance the valley is dotted and sometimes
crammed with huge rocks torn from the walls OF tn"
reservoir while the trees that in many places lined a
banks have quite vanished ard those that marked tho
outer edge Of the all tatteredand torn Ih-
deed as stands the remaining wall OF the reser
yor and looks about the is most desclate ana i
presslye.