Fells Reservoir North Dike

Slipping through time, imagine 1875. The Fells Reservoir North Dike is newly constructed. It’s a key part of Winchester’s water supply system. The Fells Reservoir North Dike stands as a testament to engineering and foresight, holding back the waters of the North Reservoir within the expansive Middlesex Fells Reservation. This isn’t just any dam. It’s a vital piece of history, nestled within a landscape that has seen centuries of change. The Middlesex Fells Reservation itself, encompassing over 2,200 acres, has a rich past. Before the dam, the area was a mix of forests, wetlands, and farms. Traces of these early uses remain, hidden beneath the waters or tucked away in the surrounding woods. One intriguing discovery was made during recent repairs to the Fells Reservoir North Dike. When the water level was lowered, a forgotten forest emerged from the depths. Stumps of salvaged logged trees, likely felled just before the reservoir was filled, became visible. These ghostly remnants offer a glimpse into the area’s past, a time when these trees stood tall and the landscape was vastly different. The Fells Reservoir North Dike isn’t just a barrier against water. It’s a keeper of secrets, a silent observer of the changing landscape. It holds within its depths stories of forests and farms, of industry and progress. As you stand here, at the edge of the reservoir, let your imagination drift back to those earlier times. Picture the workers constructing the dam, the trees falling to the axe, the water slowly rising to create the reservoir we see today. The Fells Reservoir North Dike is a reminder that the present is built upon the past, and that even beneath the surface, history waits to be rediscovered.