{"nrhp_refnum":"85002676","name":"Arlington Reservoir","other_names":["# 902"],"category":"structure","location":{"address":"Park Circle","address_restricted":false,"city":"Arlington","county":"Middlesex County","state":"MA","lat":42.41446455500005,"lon":-71.19231617699995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1985-09-27","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A circular masonry water reservoir tower at Park Circle in Arlington, Massachusetts, built 1921-1924 and designed by Frederick F. Low, at the center of a circular park at the town's highest point.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it is a fine rendition of a common utilitarian form, with neoclassical severity reminiscent of Ledoux and Boulee. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It also has local associations with the Pierce Farm and early WWII sighting-device calibration for MIT.","narrative":"Rising 80 feet at the center of a circular park on Arlington's highest ground, 460 feet above sea level, this reservoir tower was built between 1921 and 1924 for the Metropolitan District Commission. Frederick F. Low designed it as a drum 93 feet in diameter, topped by the suggestion of a Greco-Roman temple. Its masonry walls are faced with Indiana limestone and enclose a steel tank holding over two million gallons of water. The severe neoclassical styling recalls the work of late 18th century French architects Ledoux and Boulee, and a local newspaper once called it one of the most beautiful watertowers in the state. The site was once part of Captain Solomon Pierce's farm, and early in World War II the tower served as a fixed point for calibrating sighting devices developed at MIT. It was listed as a fine example of a common utilitarian structure type that retains its original integrity.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"Frederick F. Low","architectural_style":"Neoclassical","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Condition listed as good; the form gives original and subsequent use as reservoir.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:11:56.464396-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/16/7913/63791316/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/85002676.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/85002676/5194288906-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/85002676/5194288906-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Daderot","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arlington_Reservoir,_ArlingtonMA_-_IMG_2695.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Daderot</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arlington_Reservoir,_ArlingtonMA_-_IMG_2695.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63791316","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Circle_Water_Tower","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4792392"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/middlesex-county/arlington-reservoir-85002676/"}