Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

William Francis Galvin

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MWW Photograph Collection: People

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. In the construction images, contractor's workers camps, and laborers of various race and ethnicity, are depicted.
Portrait, Mass., ca. 1900-1919

Portrait, Mass., ca. 1900-1919

Spot Pond Reservoir, Vicinity of Spring at Porter Cove, Stoneham, Mass., Aug. 27, 1916

Spot Pond Reservoir, Vicinity of Spring at Porter Cove, Stoneham, Mass.,
Aug. 27, 1916

Wachusett Aqueduct, Section of Aqueduct, with Mr. Silvio Casparis on Horseback, Section 5, Station 204, Berlin, Mass., Oct. 23, 1897

Wachusett Aqueduct, Section of Aqueduct, with Mr. Silvio Casparis on Horseback, Section 5, Station 204, Berlin, Mass., Oct. 23, 1897

Chestnut Hill Pumping Station, During Boston Police Strike, Detail from Company B, 14th Regiment, State Guard, Quartered in Barn, Brighton, Mass., Sep. 17, 1919

Chestnut Hill Pumping Station, During Boston Police Strike, Detail from Company B, 14th Regiment, State Guard, Quartered in Barn, Brighton, Mass., Sep. 17, 1919

Weston Aqueduct, Section 15, Ledge Excavations, Stations 688 to 687+50, Weston, Mass., Jun. 23, 1902

Weston Aqueduct, Section 15, Ledge Excavations, Stations 688 to 687+50, Weston, Mass., Jun. 23, 1902

Group of Eight Men, Mass., ca. 1900-1919

Group of Eight Men, Mass.,
ca. 1900-1919

Wachusett Aqueduct, Italian Camp, Shoemaker, Berlin, Mass., Oct. 21, 1897

Wachusett Aqueduct, Italian Camp, Shoemaker, Berlin, Mass., Oct. 21, 1897

Ink Drawing Key to Names in Employee Outing, Clinton, Mass., Sep. 27, 1919

Ink Drawing Key to Names in Employee Outing, Clinton, Mass.,
Sep. 27, 1919

Chestnut Hill Pumping Station, During Boston Police Strike, Effluent Gatehouse No. 2, Brighton, Mass., Sep. 18, 1919

Chestnut Hill Pumping Station, During Boston Police Strike, Effluent Gatehouse No. 2, Brighton, Mass.,
Sep. 18, 1919

Wachusett Reservoir, Group Photo of Worcester County Society of Antiquity, West Boylston, Mass., Oct. 16, 1897

Wachusett Reservoir, Group Photo of Worcester County Society of Antiquity, West Boylston, Mass.,
Oct. 16, 1897

ortrait of Four Men, Mass., ca. 1900-1919

Portrait of Four Men, Mass.,
ca. 1900-1919

Portrait of Ten Men; Inside of a Pumping Station?, Mass., ca. 1900-1919

Portrait of Ten Men; Inside of a Pumping Station?, Mass., ca. 1900-1919

Weston Aqueduct, Section 8, Castings at Siphon Chamber No. 2, Wayland, Mass., Aug. 7, 1902

Weston Aqueduct, Section 8, Castings at Siphon Chamber No. 2, Wayland, Mass., Aug. 7, 1902

Consulting Engineers for the Panama Canal, Looking Towards Boylston Street, Clinton, Mass., Sep. 27, 1905

Consulting Engineers for the Panama Canal, Looking Towards Boylston Street, Clinton, Mass., Sep. 27, 1905

Weston Aqueduct, Section 2, West Drift of Tunnel No. 1, Near Portal, Framingham, Mass., Sep. 22, 1902

Weston Aqueduct, Section 2, West Drift of Tunnel No. 1, Near Portal, Framingham, Mass., Sep. 22, 1902

Wachusett Dam, Laying the Last Stone, Laid by John Mercer, Laborer, Clinton, Mass., Jun. 24, 1905

Wachusett Dam, Laying the Last Stone, Laid by John Mercer, Laborer, Clinton, Mass., Jun. 24, 1905

Spot Pond Brook, Virginia Woods Weir, Stoneham, Mass., Apr. 30, 1904

Spot Pond Brook, Virginia Woods Weir, Stoneham, Mass., Apr. 30, 1904

Portrait, Mass., ca. 1900-1919

Portrait, Mass., ca. 1900-1919

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