{"nrhp_refnum":"89002254","name":"Fisher Hill Reservoir and Gatehouse","other_names":[],"category":"structure","location":{"address":"Fisher Rd. between Hyslop and Channing Rds.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Brookline","county":"Norfolk County","state":"MA","lat":42.32930578000003,"lon":-71.14299191799995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1990-01-18","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Community Planning and Development","Engineering","Politics/Government","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["state","local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A small rectangular water reservoir and its adjoining gatehouse on Fisher Road between Hyslop and Channing Roads in Brookline, Massachusetts, built in 1886-1887 on about 4 acres in a suburban residential neighborhood.","why_significant":"It was one of the first components of Boston's high service water distribution system and survives intact, unlike many similar reservoirs that were filled in or removed. The gatehouse is a Richardsonian Romanesque design with unusual terra cotta decoration, and the complex fits its residential surroundings. It meets Criteria A and C.","narrative":"Fisher Hill Reservoir and Gatehouse is a small water-supply complex in Brookline, Massachusetts, built in 1886-1887 as part of Boston's high service distribution program. The rectangular reservoir is lined with concrete and stone, with edges faced in shaped brownstone blocks and earthen embankments serving as its dam. The compact gatehouse has a granite base, a stone main floor, a brick second story and a slate hip roof, with brownstone quoins and oversized arch stones. Raised terra cotta panels on its facade are an unusual decorative touch for the city's water buildings. The work was directed by City Engineer William Jackson and built by Moulton and O'Mahoney; the gatehouse may have been designed by city architect Arthur Vinal. The Metropolitan District Commission has owned it since 1919, and it was taken out of service in the 1950s. It remains a rare surviving example of a small hilltop reservoir type and blends well with its residential setting, which is why it was listed under Criteria A and C.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"Built under Boston City Engineer William Jackson; constructed by Moulton and O'Mahoney, Lawrence, Mass.; gatehouse possibly designed by Boston City Architect Arthur Vinal","architectural_style":"Richardsonian Romanesque","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Taken out of service in the 1950s; weeds grow in the basin and the gatehouse is sealed. Condition is listed as fair.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:13:02.349162-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/50/7926/63792650/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/89002254.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/89002254/d1e485b410-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/89002254/d1e485b410-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 4.0","author":"User:Magicpiano","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BrooklineMA_FisherHillReservoirGatehouse.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">User:Magicpiano</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BrooklineMA_FisherHillReservoirGatehouse.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"85003266","name":"Fisher Hill Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/massachusetts/fisher-hill-historic-district-85003266/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63792650","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_Hill_Reservoir","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5454806"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/norfolk-county/fisher-hill-reservoir-and-gatehouse-89002254/"}