Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

William Francis Galvin

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MWW Photograph Collection: Buildings, Landscapes & Streetscapes

The Metropolitan Water Works Photograph Collection documents the real estate takings for, and the construction and operations of the Metropolitan Water Works (MWW) system, as well as the expansion of a water supply distribution system throughout metropolitan Boston. The construction of the Boston Water Board between 1890 and 1895 is also documented, representing the Hopkinton Reservoir and Dam, and Sudbury Reservoir and Dam. Between 1876 and 1930, over 8,000 meticulously labeled photographs of various formats were taken of each phase of the construction by staff photographers and engineers, representing MWW facilities in about fifty Massachusetts cities, towns, and Boston neighborhood districts. These formats include dry plate glass negatives, glass lantern slides, and photographic prints.
Weston Aqueduct, Weston Reservoir, Section 2, Excavation Southwesterly from Island, Weston, Mass., Sep. 25, 1903

Weston Aqueduct, Weston Reservoir, Section 2, Excavation Southwesterly from Island, Weston, Mass.,
Sep. 25, 1903

Distribution Department, Mystic Reservoir, East Basin, Medford, Mass., Sep. 29, 1905

Distribution Department, Mystic Reservoir, East Basin, Medford, Mass., Sep. 29, 1905

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, Ducks in Dark Hollow Pond, Stoneham, Mass., Sep. 8, 1903

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, Ducks in Dark Hollow Pond, Stoneham, Mass.,
Sep. 8, 1903

Wachusett Reservoir, Southeast to Beaman Cemetery, West Boylston, Mass., Apr. 6, 1904

Wachusett Reservoir, Southeast to Beaman Cemetery, West Boylston, Mass., Apr. 6, 1904

Wachusett Reservoir, First Baptist Church, West Boylston, Mass., Oct. 16, 1897

Wachusett Reservoir, First Baptist Church, West Boylston, Mass.,
Oct. 16, 1897

Wachusett Department, Nashua Reservoir Site, Northeasterly from Pine Hill, West Boylston, Mass., Apr. – May 1897

Wachusett Department, Nashua Reservoir Site, Northeasterly from Pine Hill, West Boylston, Mass.,
Apr.–May 1897

Scow at the Foot of Magazine Street, with Diver Preparing to Descend, Station 138+, Cambridge, Mass., Jun. 12, 1897

Scow at the Foot of Magazine Street, with Diver Preparing to Descend, Station 138+, Cambridge, Mass.,
Jun. 12, 1897

Distribution Department, Supply Pipe Lines, Section 1, Round Piles for Cofferdam, and Unobstructed Part of River Channel, Newton; Weston, Mass., Aug. 28, 1902

Distribution Department, Supply Pipe Lines, Section 1, Round Piles for Cofferdam, and Unobstructed Part of River Channel, Newton; Weston, Mass., Aug. 28, 1902

Wachusett Reservoir, Final Cleaning of Reservoir Bottom, Section 6, Boylston, Mass., Oct. 6, 1903

Wachusett Reservoir, Final Cleaning of Reservoir Bottom, Section 6, Boylston, Mass., Oct. 6, 1903

Clinton Sewerage, Furrows on Filter-Bed No. 22, Lancaster, Mass., Nov. 16, 1899

Clinton Sewerage, Furrows on Filter-Bed No. 22, Lancaster, Mass.,
Nov. 16, 1899

Distribution Department, Southern Extra High Service Bellevue Reservoir, Foundation, Bellevue Hill, West Roxbury, Mass., Oct. 6, 1914

Distribution Department, Southern Extra High Service Bellevue Reservoir, Foundation, Bellevue Hill, West Roxbury, Mass., Oct. 6, 1914

Wachusett Aqueduct, Assabet Bridge, From Hudson Street, Northborough, Mass., Oct. 16, 1897

Wachusett Aqueduct, Assabet Bridge, From Hudson Street, Northborough, Mass., Oct. 16, 1897

Distribution Department, Northern Extra High Service Arlington Standpipe, Panorama View from Standpipe, Arlington, Mass., Jun. 4, 1920

Distribution Department, Northern Extra High Service Arlington Standpipe, Panorama View from Standpipe, Arlington, Mass.,
Jun. 4, 1920

Weston Aqueduct, Section 7, Delivering 7 1/2-Foot Diameter Steel Pipe, 8-Horse Team, Framingham; Wayland, Mass., Aug. 7, 1902

Weston Aqueduct, Section 7, Delivering 7 1/2-Foot Diameter Steel Pipe, 8-Horse Team, Framingham; Wayland, Mass., Aug. 7, 1902

Wachusett Reservoir, Italian Camp, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 20, 1897

Wachusett Reservoir, Italian Camp, Clinton, Mass., Oct. 20, 1897

Distribution Department, Low Service Pipe Lines, Relaying 48-Inch Main Damaged by Electrolysis, Boylston Street near Eliot Street, Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 23, 1910

Distribution Department, Low Service Pipe Lines, Relaying 48-Inch Main Damaged by Electrolysis, Boylston Street near Eliot Street, Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 23, 1910

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, Spraying Trees Corner of South and Main Streets, Stoneham, Mass., Jul. 18, 1911

Distribution Department, Low Service Spot Pond Reservoir, Spraying Trees Corner of South and Main Streets, Stoneham, Mass., Jul. 18, 1911

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Lines, Section 43, 22-Inch Steel Pipes on Bridge at Adams Street over New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, Milton, Mass., Sep. 7, 1915

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Pipe Lines, Section 43, 22-Inch Steel Pipes on Bridge at Adams Street over New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, Milton, Mass., Sep. 7, 1915

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Forbes Hill Reservoir, Entrance to Masonry Water Tower, Quincy, Mass., Jul. 14, 1902

Distribution Department, Southern High Service Forbes Hill Reservoir, Entrance to Masonry Water Tower, Quincy, Mass., Jul. 14, 1902

Distribution Department, Weston Aqueduct Supply Mains, Fireplace in Parlor, Helen G. Navin's house, 55 Eastbourne Road, Newton, Mass., Nov. 9, 1910

Distribution Department, Weston Aqueduct Supply Mains, Fireplace in Parlor, Helen G. Navin's house, 55 Eastbourne Road, Newton, Mass.,
Nov. 9, 1910

Sudbury Department, Tree, With Tire Swing, Southborough?, Mass., May 8, 1927

Sudbury Department, Tree, With Tire Swing, Southborough?, Mass.,
May 8, 1927

Curated by: Yolande Bennett
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William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth
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