Water, Water Everywhere: 100 Years of Framingham Water Works, Part II

The Framingham History Center presents:

Water, Water Everywhere: Part II

Sunday, October 14, 2018

2:00 PM

Edgell Memorial Library, 3 Oak St., Framingham

In part two of our program, City Historian, Fred Wallace will continue with the development of Framingham’s water supply from 1935 to the present. We will pick up where he left off after the discovery of the largest aquifer in the state under Birch Rd. in the Northeast section of town. At the same time that Framingham was moving toward “water independence” Metropolitan Boston was facing water shortages. The Weston aqueduct (built in 1908) which ran right through Framingham on its way to Boston had to be replaced by 1940. Where Framingham had no access to the old aqueduct, the new Hultman aqueduct (front picture) would gradually become Framingham’s largest water source.

Our competing needs with metropolitan Boston along with post WWII growth, the environmental movement in the 60s and the establishment of the Metropolitan Water Resources Authority contribute to a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of our infrastructure and how we access water today. What happened to the Deep Wells under Birch Rd.? Are there aqueducts, water tanks or and pumping station on your daily commute? Which of the reservoirs that you see throughout town might be called on in an emergency?  Join us as we finish Framingham’s water story.

Image: Sandhogs in front of Tunnel Boring Machine. Courtesy of Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.