Framingham Reservoir No. 1 Dam and Gatehouse
Why it's listed
Framingham Reservoir No. 1 Dam and Gatehouse, on Winter Street, was built between 1876 and 1878 at the confluence of the two branches of the Sudbury River. It formed part of Boston's expanded water system, which brought water from the Sudbury River watershed to the city. The reservoir acted as a large settling basin, letting heavier material sink before water moved on. The dam is 793 feet long, with earthen embankments and a central 169-foot masonry overfall faced in cut granite. Beside it stands a 1½-story granite gatehouse with a steep hipped roof, a peaked cupola, a pedimented doorway and stonework in three shades of granite. Inside, gates control flow into the conduit to Farm Pond, to the neighboring reservoirs and to the river. The gatehouse came from the office of George A. Clough, Boston City Architect. Both structures keep their original character, though the reservoir is no longer in service because of water quality problems.
Significance in brief: It is significant for its association with the Sudbury Supply, the second water supply system built by the Metropolitan Water Board of the City of Boston. The dam and gatehouse are examples of municipal water technology and architecture of the later nineteenth century. The gatehouse is also noted as the work of George Clough, Boston City Architect from 1873 to 1883.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89002291, listed January 18, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E end of Framingham Reservoir No. 1, off Winter St. N of Long Ave., Framingham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 18, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002291 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1876-1878 |
| Architect / builder | George A. Clough, Boston City Architect (gatehouse); dam constructed by J.V. Quackenbush of Mohawk, NY and Clinton Beckwith of Herkimer, NY |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Engineering, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition fair; structures remain intact, but the reservoirs were removed from service because surrounding industrial development made the water unsuitable for use. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.29179, -71.44241 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89002291.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8565311
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.