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HUB History - Our Favorite Stories from Boston History - Damming the Charles River

Damming the Charles River

10/06/24 • 60 min

HUB History - Our Favorite Stories from Boston History

The construction of Boston’s Charles River Dam was a monumental project that transformed the tidal estuary of the Back Bay into a fresh-water basin, providing a 20th century solution to problems that the city inherited from the 19th, including issues with industrial waste, sanitation, and general public distaste for the acres of mudflats that were exposed at low tide. Temporary floodgates closed on October 20, 1908, which marked the first separation of the waters of Boston Harbor from the Back Bay’s brackish salt marsh. In the lead-up to this moment, earthen dams were constructed on both sides of the river, with a lock allowing boats to pass through the dam on the Boston side and a sluiceway to regulate water levels in the upstream basin on the Cambridge side. A temporary wooden dam was built to close the center of the river, allowing for the construction of a permanent dam made of dirt and rock. Despite facing opposition and challenges, the dam was successfully completed in 1910, resulting in the creation of the Charles River Basin, the Esplanade, and some of Boston’s most iconic sites for outdoor recreation.

Full show notes: http://HUBhistory.com/311/

Support us: http://patreon.com/HUBhistory/

Damming the Charles River

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The construction of Boston’s Charles River Dam was a monumental project that transformed the tidal estuary of the Back Bay into a fresh-water basin, providing a 20th century solution to problems that the city inherited from the 19th, including issues with industrial waste, sanitation, and general public distaste for the acres of mudflats that were exposed at low tide. Temporary floodgates closed on October 20, 1908, which marked the first separation of the waters of Boston Harbor from the Back Bay’s brackish salt marsh. In the lead-up to this moment, earthen dams were constructed on both sides of the river, with a lock allowing boats to pass through the dam on the Boston side and a sluiceway to regulate water levels in the upstream basin on the Cambridge side. A temporary wooden dam was built to close the center of the river, allowing for the construction of a permanent dam made of dirt and rock. Despite facing opposition and challenges, the dam was successfully completed in 1910, resulting in the creation of the Charles River Basin, the Esplanade, and some of Boston’s most iconic sites for outdoor recreation.

Full show notes: http://HUBhistory.com/311/

Support us: http://patreon.com/HUBhistory/

Damming the Charles River

Previous Episode

undefined - The Great September Gale

The Great September Gale

September 22nd marks the anniversary of a storm. 209 years ago today, the wind was building over the sea off Boston while the skies grew dark with clouds. The next day, the strongest hurricane in generations slammed into the New England coast, causing devastation on Boston Harbor, in city streets, and in fields and forests all around the region. The storm is remembered as the Great September Gale, and it had wide-ranging effects, causing everything from a collapse in the local glass industry to a construction boom to an acceleration in westward migration from Boston and New England.

Full show notes: http://HUBhistory.com/310/

Support us: http://patreon.com/HUBhistory/

The Great September Gale

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undefined - Boston’s Spooky Sea Serpent

Boston’s Spooky Sea Serpent

In this episode, we dive into the lasting folklore of Boston’s sea serpent, a supposedly true tale rooted in the early colonial history of New England. The story begins with a dubious 1639 account, continues through repeated sightings in the early 1800s, and extends into the 20th century. From the beginning, skeptics poked holes in accounts of the serpent, even when the scientific Linnaean Society fell for the story hook, line, and sinker. However, the idea of a sea monster on Massachusetts shores helped transform Nahant into a summer tourist destination, drawing curious visitors eager to spot the serpent and keeping the legend alive for a century.

Full show notes: http://HUBhistory.com/312/

Support us: http://patreon.com/HUBhistory/

The Boston Harbor Sea Serpent

hoax photo " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.hubhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/a2437-little-neck-sea-serpent.jpg?fit=300%2C183&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.hubhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/a2437-little-neck-sea-serpent.jpg?fit=660%2C403&ssl=1" tabindex="0" role="button" /> George Dexter’s hoax photo From Samuel Adams Drake’s book From Ballou’s

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