Picture a structure holding back a significant body of water. That is the Middle Reservoir Dike. It is a key piece of infrastructure. This crucial structure is part of a larger system ensuring water supply.
The Middlesex Fells Reservation surrounds the Middle Reservoir Dike. This vast recreation area covers over 2,200 acres. It spans several towns including Malden, Medford and Melrose. Stoneham and Winchester are also included.
The Middlesex Fells Reservation features several reservoirs. Spot Pond and Fells Reservoir are inactive. North Middle and South Reservoirs are active. They supply water to Winchester. Spot Pond and Fells Reservoir are part of the Wachusett system. This system is one of six that feed metropolitan Boston’s waterworks. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation manages the park. It is a significant part of Greater Boston’s Metropolitan Park System.
The area’s history dates back centuries. John Winthrop explored the area around Middlesex Fells in 1632. He was the Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The land provided timber, granite and ice. Water power fueled many mills. These included a mill that made early vulcanized rubber. Remnants of these mills are visible in the Spot Pond Archeological District. This district is in the Virginia Woods section. It was once the mill village of Haywardville.
Fannie Tudor initiated the reservation in 1891. She donated Virginia Wood. It was a memorial to her daughter Virginia. Virginia loved walking in these woods. Her grandfather had given her mother an Italianate mansion on Spot Pond in 1862. The property was donated to the Metropolitan District Commission in 1923. In 1893 the state took over management as a state park.
The Middlesex Fells Reservoirs Historic District surrounds Spot Pond. It lies east of I-93. Roadways within the park are listed as Middlesex Fells Reservation Parkways. The John Botume House serves as the park’s visitor center. It is near the 1906 Metropolitan District Commission Pumping House. The Spot Pond Archeological District marks historically important sites. Fells Connector Parkways link the park to the Mystic River Reservation. Lynn Fells Parkway connects it to the Breakheart Reservation.
Today the reservation offers many activities. There are over 100 miles of trails. People enjoy hiking and mountain biking. Cross-country skiing and horseback riding are popular. Trailheads are accessible from Interstate 93. They are at exits 24, 25 and 26. Fishing is available on Dark Hollow Pond. Picnicking areas and an observation tower enhance the experience. A concessionaire rents kayaks and canoes on Spot Pond during summer. Rock climbing is a favorite activity.
Sheepfold Meadow provides an open space. This ten-acre field in Stoneham welcomes dog walkers and picnickers.
The Middle Reservoir Dike stands as a testament to engineering. It ensures a consistent water supply. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Middlesex Fells Reservation it provides both function and recreation. It invites exploration and appreciation.