Arlington Pumping Station

Completed in 1907, the Arlington Pumping Station stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity. Here before us, this unassuming brick structure played a vital role in quenching the thirst of Arlington and Lexington. Imagine the parched throats of residents in the early 20th century, especially those living on higher ground, before this marvel of modern engineering was built. The Arlington Pumping Station, designed by C.A. Dodge & Co., began construction on August 23, 1906. It’s a substantial building, 90 feet long and 46 feet wide, constructed with dark-red brick and trimmed with Longmeadow brownstone. Its hip roof, supported by steel trusses and covered with slate, has sheltered the powerful machinery within for over a century. Look closely at the details. The granite steps, the water-table course, and the trimmings below are all made of pink Milford granite, a touch of elegance for this utilitarian structure. The Arlington Pumping Station housed an impressive Allis-Chalmers pumping engine. This horizontal, cross-compound, flywheel engine, equipped with a Corliss valve gear, powered two massive plunger pumps. This engine, capable of 65 revolutions per minute, could pump an astounding 1,500,000 gallons of water in a single day. A second engine, built by Blake & Knowles Steam Pump Works, offered a backup system with the same impressive capacity. Two enormous horizontal boilers, each 54 inches in diameter and filled with 60 three-inch tubes, generated the steam to drive these powerful engines. The furnaces, equipped with Foster shaking grates, consumed tons of coal, delivered via a side track and unloaded through 16 openings in the reinforced concrete roof of the underground coal pocket. The Arlington Pumping Station wasn’t just a building; it was a lifeline. It brought water to those who needed it, fueling growth and improving lives. It’s a reminder that even the most essential services often go unnoticed, hidden in plain sight, like this sturdy brick building on Brattle Court.