Stony Brook was formerly the largest watercourse within the city of Boston. It originally emptied into the Back Bay, a tidal part of the Charles River.
Considerable water-powered industry grew up along its shores.
In around 1882, the Back Bay Fens were dredged to convert them into a holding basin for storm overflow from Stony Brook, following Olmsted's plan.
By the early 20th century, it had largely been diverted into underground culverts.
References
- "Annual Report of the Street Department", February 1, 1892 in Documents of the City of Boston for the Year 1892, 2:110 at Google Books
- Alex Krieger, David A. Cobb, and Amy Turner, Mapping Boston, p. 131ff
- "A Sewer Runs Through It", The City Record and Boston News-Letter, blog page
- "The Stony Brook During a Flood, c. 1890", The City Record and Boston News-Letter, blog page
- Edwin Munroe Bacon, Walks and rides in the country round about Boston full text