Mystery Solved... For What It's Worth

Richards, L.J. 1899 (copyright © 2000 by Cartography Associates)
David Rumsey Collection.

I'm reposting this map from my earlier entry on the lost Franklin Park reservoir. I said in that entry that I wanted to find out where the reservoir was, and today I took advantage of some nice weather to poke around Hagborne hill. Sure enough, I found a relatively level area with several manhole covers sitting strangely out of place in the woods. No doubt, that's the reservoir, marked by the "bourne" of "Hagbourne Hill" on the above map. There are picnic benches in various states of disrepair about the area, and a collection of metal trash barrels that are apparently kept there for the winter. If nothing else, the area seems to be a dog-walkers' paradise. Below is my manhole proof of location of the never-used reservoir of Franklin Park. Now I've satisfied my strange curiousity about the never-used, long-forgotten hole in the ground.


Does anyone wonder why there are manhole covers in the woods?


This is the only level land of this area in the "Wilderness" section of Franklin Park. There are a good 7-8 manhole covers within view of this picture. I assume the underground reservoir across much of the area.

Hagborne Hill Reservoir

Richards, L.J. 1899 (copyright © 2000 by Cartography Associates)
David Rumsey Collection.



In the center of the above map, you see Hagborne hill. If you're like me, as soon as the weather gets nice you'll want to talk a walk around the hill and look for evidence of the lost reservoir of Franklin Park. Even more, I'd love to know what's inside it now. I'd also like to know where the pumps of the Jamaica Pond Aqueduct Company were. And finally, I'd like to know the name of the Nimrod responsible for this disaster.


Boston Daily Globe October 26, 1902


Abandoned Hole. A Record Hall of Park Department. Reservoir Was Built in the Rock of Hagborne Hill. Meant to Supply Ponds of Franklin Park.


Boston has a great reservoir, built to hold water, which is utilized as a graveyard for public documents.

When it became apparent that the water shed of Franklin park was insufficient to keep the ponds full during the dry season and that it would be necessary to supplement the natural water supply, it was determined to utilize the plant of the Jamaica pond aqueduct corporation, laying an eight-inch pipe from the pumping station to a reservoir on Hagborne hill, and erecting standpipes along the line for road sprinkling purposes.

Work on the reservoir was begun in 1894. It was entirely below the original surface of the ground, and was excavated chiefly in rock, the bottom resting entirely on rock. This would have made the cost excessively high, except for the fact that material for road surfacing was obtained.

Inasmuch as the level of the water could not well be kept at a constant height and the appearance of the reservoir, if exposed, would be unsightly, it was thought best to have it covered.

The side walls were perpendicular, of American cement concrete, with a thickness nowhere less than one foot, the remaining space between the concrete and the ledge being filled with dry rubble.

Brick piers, 16 inches square, 10 inches high and 10 feet apart, were built for supporting the roof.

The top is covered today by 2 1/2 feet of loam.

The big main branches in a manhole just outside. The branch which was to supply the reservoir enters about six inches above the bottom, and is carried diagonally across nearly to the farther corner, where it ends in a globe-shaped casting, with an opening above. The branch which was to serve for an outflow pipe passes under the bottom and in embedded in concrete.

The reservoir covers an area of 9733 square feet, and has a capacity of 951,000 gallons, which is estimated to be a week's supply, n the driest time, for water carts on the drive between the reservoir and Jamaica park and also for making good the loss by evaporation from the ponds in Franklin park.

Difficulties arose which prevented the carrying out of the project, and the immense and costly reservoir, together with the tons of pipe, was abandoned. It was found that the water of Jamaica pond was too low to be carried to Hagborne hill without a more powerful pumping energy than could be supplied by the old Jamaica pond aqueduct pumps, and it was not deemed wise to construct a new pumping plant.

Since, the old pumping station has been removed, and instead of water in the great well in the park, the dry and musty records of the park department are to be found.


Update: I later walked around Hagborne hill and found evidence of the reservoir: Update

The Franklin Park Cave - Part II

Boston Daily Globe July 16, 1889


The Cave In Franklin Park.


Although the descriptions of the recently discovered cave in Franklin park are rather conflicting, there appears to be no doubt that it is a cavern of considerable dimensions, such as is exceedingly rare in this part of the country.

The rocks that underlie the surface of New England are not of the soft limestone formation in which caves abound, and it is only by the accidental falling together of two or more great rocks that one can be formed. This appears to be the case with the Franklin Park cave; it is non a cavity in a single rock, but is formed by several rocks which lie as if they had been promiscuously tumbled together by some convulsion of nature. The Globe reporter penetrated to a depth which he estimated at 75 feet, without reaching any limit. The relics that have been found within it show it to have been unquestionably inhabited at one time by Indians. The atmosphere within the cave is described as almost unbreathable.

This natural curiosity lies directly in the way of the new circuit drive, and it is reported to be the intention of the superintendent to have it blasted away. If the cave is anything like what has been described, we hope he will reconsider that intention. It would be well worth while to have the drive turn aside for the sake of preserving a work of nature which would make a valuable addition to the park's attractions. The path into the interior could be made smooth and convenient and the cave lighted and ventilated.

Journey To The Center Of Franklin Park

Boston Daily Globe July 14, 1889


Strange Cavern Explored.

Wonderful Discovery in Franklin Park - Great Cave Once Inhabited By Indians Discovered by Laborers.

A sensational report was circulated through the West Roxbury district yesterday that a gang of workmen under William O'Brien, in digging through a hill in Franklin Park, near Williams street had discovered a large cave, which extended many feet into the earth, and which had every appearance of having been inhabited at some remote time.

The entrance to the cave was under about 10 feet of soil, which had been cleared away preparatory to blasting.

Patrick Clark, a bricklayer employed in the park department, was the first man to penetrate the cavern, and he was followed by Thomas Glennon and others. They found several small tools of antique pattern and two small hatchets of crude workmanship, such as were used by the Indians who were located here years ago. The men groped their way along the opening 100 feet, finding several relics left by Indians who probably inhabited the underground cavity.

The opening of the cave is about 18 inches wide and scarcely large enough for one to enter, but once within a person can stand upright and walk around with ease. The opening extends downward 15 or 20 feet, and the passage then takes a turn to the left. The end has not yet been reached.

Yesterday afternoon a Globe reporter, accompanied by Editor John P. Forde of the West Roxbury Advertiser, and M.E. Hennessey, assistant editor, vistied the scene of the discovery, and proceeded to explore the mysteries of the cavern. A rope and a lantern were procured from the tool house in the park, and the rope being fastened to a post near by, The Globe reporter with the lantern in hand slid down into the cave, followed by his companions. The sides of the opening had the appearance of being the work of nature, but within the cave the work of man was plain seen. The walls were smooth as though chiseled out, and there was plenty of room for the three men to stand abreast.

They proceeded along the cave the lantern shedding a ghostly light on the walls, which were dripping with moisture. Every few feet, there were openings in the side of the cave, which looked as though they had been cut out of the solid rock. A nauseous odor pervaded the air, caused by the gas which had accumulated in the passages. The ceiling of the cave presented an odd appearance. A series of small bowlders hanging from the roof seemed to have been fastened by mechanical means and extended the entire length of the cavern.

As the party proceeded the cave grew continually wider and extended downward at a sharp pitch. Along the sides little openings, about the size of a man's hand, were discovered, and seemed to form the outlet of other and smaller caverns. After proceeding about 100 feet along the passage their progress, which was somewhat difficult on account of the small smooth stones, which lined the floor, was suddenly stopped by a barrier of loose stones. The cave did not end here, for through a small opening in the barrier its continuance could be seen and by the flickering rays of the lantern no end of it could be seen. A small piece of iron was picked up by one of the party. It proved to be the head of an arrow.

The reporter and his companions retraced their steps to the entrance and climbed up the rope out into pure air.

The greatest excitement exists over the discovery, and crowds of people visited the spot yesterday, but few had the courage to enter. Monday morning the workmen employed by the park will make further excavations, and it is expected that interesting discoveries will be made.

J.P. Puzzler

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Mystery site. (Copyright 2007, all rights reserved)



So where were these pics taken? Hint: it's at the edge of Jamaica Plain, and it's public property.







We have a winner! Pagel park is between the railroad tracks and Hyde Park avenue opposite Wyvern street. That puts it right at the edge of Roslindale. The tunnel came out at the south edge of the Archdale housing projects where Brookway terrace ends.



Stony brook once crossed Hyde Park avenue right at the north edge of Pagel park and went under the railroad tracks. A City of Boston street directory of 1955 lists a Brookway Footpath between Brookway Terrace on the west side of the tracks and Hyde Park avenue on the east. This must have been it. The Archdale side is totally blocked off, but the stone wall on the Pagel side is still in view if you walk up close.

Congrats to Massmarrier - I buy you a virtual beer!