Lost Towns of the Swift River Valley : Drowned by the Quabbin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Palladino, Elena.

Series:

Lost

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Swift River Valley (Mass.)--History.

Quabbin Reservoir Region--(Mass.)--History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (160 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Chicago : The History Press, 2022.

Summary:

In April 1938, Swift River Valley residents held a farewell ball to mark the demise of the quintessential New England town of Enfield and its three smaller neighbors, Greenwich, Dana, and Prescott. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts sacrificed these three towns to build the Quabbin, a massive reservoir of drinking water for residents of Boston. Three prominent residents attended the somber occasion. Marion Andrews Smith was the last surviving member of an important manufacturing family. Willard "Doc" Segur was the valley's beloved country doctor and town leader. And Edwin Henry Howe was Enfield's postmaster and general store proprietor. They helped build their beloved community for decades, only to watch grief-stricken as it was destroyed by 400 billion gallons of water. Author and historian Elena Palladino recounts the story of these communities as seen through eyes of those who lived there until the end.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Prologue: The Farewell Ball

Part I. The Swift River Valley-Before

1. Planning the Centennial

2. The Character of the Valley

3. Honoring Enfield's Finest

4. Old Home Day

5. A Parade to Remember

Part II. Water for Boston

6. A City on a Hill

7. Boston Grows Thirstier

8. The Greater Good: City versus Country

9. The Beginning of the End

Part III: Destruction

10. The Decade of Destruction

11. Life and Death in the Valley

12. Grave Decisions

13. The Woodpeckers Descend

14. Losing the Landmarks

15. Disincorporation

16. Auld Lang Syne

17. Leaving Home

Epilogue: Exile

Notes

Bibliography

About the Author.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-4396-7699-2

OCLC:

1414457301