Stony Brook (Charles River tributary, Boston): Difference between revisions
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Stony Brook originally fed into the [[Muddy River (Boston)|Muddy River]] and the [[Back Bay, Boston#History|Back Bay]] in a windy channel.<ref name=carter /> It was known for its unusually clear water; a number of breweries including the [[Haffenreffer Brewery]] were located along its banks.<ref name=heart>{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907010137/http://ksgaccman.harvard.edu/hotc/DisplayPlace.asp?id=11378 |archivedate=September 7, 2006 |title=Stony Brook |work=Heart of the City Project |publisher=Center for Urban and Regional Policy, Northeastern University |url=http://ksgaccman.harvard.edu/hotc/DisplayPlace.asp?id=11378 |year=2002}}</ref> The flow also powered industry including mills and tanneries.<ref name=fhhistory>{{cite web|url=http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/14305/22801055/1369930556993/HistoryForestHills.pdf |title=A HISTORY OF FOREST HILLS |publisher=Jamaica Plain Historical Society |author=Heath, Richard |date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> The [[Washington Street (Boston)|Norfolk and Boston Turnpike]] was constructed along the Stony Brook valley in 1803, followed by the [[Boston and Providence Railroad]] in 1834.<ref name=heart /> (That section of the railroad is now the [[Southwest Corridor (Boston)|Southwest Corridor]], which includes [[Stony Brook station (MBTA)|Stony Brook station]].)<ref name=netransit>{{NETransit}}</ref> |
Stony Brook originally fed into the [[Muddy River (Boston)|Muddy River]] and the [[Back Bay, Boston#History|Back Bay]] in a windy channel.<ref name=carter /> It was known for its unusually clear water; a number of breweries including the [[Haffenreffer Brewery]] were located along its banks.<ref name=heart>{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907010137/http://ksgaccman.harvard.edu/hotc/DisplayPlace.asp?id=11378 |archivedate=September 7, 2006 |title=Stony Brook |work=Heart of the City Project |publisher=Center for Urban and Regional Policy, Northeastern University |url=http://ksgaccman.harvard.edu/hotc/DisplayPlace.asp?id=11378 |year=2002}}</ref> The flow also powered industry including mills and tanneries.<ref name=fhhistory>{{cite web|url=http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/14305/22801055/1369930556993/HistoryForestHills.pdf |title=A HISTORY OF FOREST HILLS |publisher=Jamaica Plain Historical Society |author=Heath, Richard |date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> The [[Washington Street (Boston)|Norfolk and Boston Turnpike]] was constructed along the Stony Brook valley in 1803, followed by the [[Boston and Providence Railroad]] in 1834.<ref name=heart /> (That section of the railroad is now the [[Southwest Corridor (Boston)|Southwest Corridor]], which includes [[Stony Brook station (MBTA)|Stony Brook station]].)<ref name=netransit>{{NETransit}}</ref> |
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The Stony Brook valley is very flat; during heavy rain and [[freshet]]s, the brook would overflow its banks and inundate surrounding meadows. As development increased around the brook, this flooding became problematic (partially due to increased [[surface runoff]] from cleared land).<ref name=carter>{{cite journal |url=https://archive.org/stream/journalofassoci111892asso#page/500/mode/2up |title=Stony Brook Improvement |first=Henry H. |last=Carter |pages=500–513 |date=October 1892 |journal=Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies |volume=11 |issue=2 |publisher=Association of Engineering Societies |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> A section near [[Forest Hills station (MBTA)|Forest Hills station]] was placed in a culvert by 1845; this was extended in 1873.<ref name=fhhistory /> In 1851, a segment in Roxbury east of Tremont Street was placed into a culvert. Culvert Street (now Whittier Street) was built over part of the culvert; other sections of the filled land were sold for development.<ref name=carter /> The segment from Tremont Street to the Back Bay basin was diverted into a channel under Rogers Avenue in 1865. The segment from [[Roxbury Crossing]] (Tremont Street at Pynchon Street) to Vernon Street was channelized and covered in 1866–67, completing improvements north of Roxbury Crossing.<ref name=carter /> |
The Stony Brook valley is very flat; during heavy rain and [[freshet]]s, the brook would overflow its banks and inundate surrounding meadows. As development increased around the brook, this flooding became problematic (partially due to increased [[surface runoff]] from cleared land).<ref name=carter>{{cite journal |url=https://archive.org/stream/journalofassoci111892asso#page/500/mode/2up |title=Stony Brook Improvement |first=Henry H. |last=Carter |pages=500–513 |date=October 1892 |journal=Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies |volume=11 |issue=2 |publisher=Association of Engineering Societies |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> A section near [[Forest Hills station (MBTA)|Forest Hills station]] was placed in a culvert by 1845; this was extended in 1873.<ref name=fhhistory /> In 1851, a segment in Roxbury east of Tremont Street was placed into a culvert. Culvert Street (now Whittier Street) was built over part of the culvert; other sections of the filled land were sold for development.<ref name=carter /> The segment from Tremont Street to the Back Bay basin was diverted into a channel under Rogers Avenue and Bryant Street (now Forsyth Street) in 1865. The segment from [[Roxbury Crossing]] (Tremont Street at Pynchon Street) to Vernon Street was channelized and covered in 1866–67, completing improvements north of Roxbury Crossing.<ref name=carter /> |
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In 1873, the city of West Roxbury channelized Stony Brook through the Roslindale and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods.<ref name=carter /> After the 1873 annexation of Hyde Park, the channel was extended south from Roxbury Crossing to Jamaica Plain in 1880–84.<ref name=carter /> |
In 1873, the city of West Roxbury channelized Stony Brook through the Roslindale and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods.<ref name=carter /> After the 1873 annexation of Hyde Park, the channel was extended south from Roxbury Crossing to Jamaica Plain in 1880–84.<ref name=carter /> In 1881–82, a {{convert|7x7|ft|adj=on}} conduit was constructed from Bryant Street under the east bank of the Muddy River to the Charles River. The [[Stony Brook Gatehouse]] controlled the flow of the Stony Brook; under normal conditions, the full flow was directed into the new conduit.<ref name=fens>{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/imce-uploads/2016-11/back_bay_fens_study_report_56_ocr.pdf |title=Report of the Boston Landmarks Commission on the potential designation of BACK BAY FENS as a Landmark under Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended |year=1983 |publisher=Boston Landmarks Commission}}</ref> The four decades of channelizing and culverting the river were done haphazardly, with varying cross sections and slopes resulting in inconsistent attainable flow rates along the river.<ref name=carter /> Heavy rain and melting snow in February 1886 resulted in flows of {{convert|500|ft3/s}}, overwhelming the capacity of the culvert north of Roxbury Crossing. This resulted in flooding of {{convert|63|acres}} and 1,437 buildings, showing the inadequacy of the existing culverts.<ref name=carter /><ref name=fens /> |
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In 1887–89, a bypass conduit (the Commissioner's Channel)<!--BLC accidentally gives 1890s dates--> was constructed from Roxbury Crossing to Huntington Avenue, largely under Parker Street. It was built at a cost of $650,000 (equivalent to ${{format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|650000|1889}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) and was among the largest storm sewers in the country.<ref name=carter />{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}<ref name=fens /> From Huntington Avenue to the Muddy River, Stony Brook ran in a {{convert|42|feet|adj=on}}-wide open canal.<ref name=carter /> In the 1880s and 1890s, the Muddy River channel was reconstructed in the Fens under the direction of [[Frederick Law Olmsted]] to serve as a holding basin for storm overflow from the Muddy River and Stony Brook.<ref name=fens /> The railroad was raised onto an embankment through the Stony Brook Valley in the 1890s to eliminate [[grade crossing]]s, and [[Columbus Avenue (Boston)|Columbus Avenue]] was widened around the same time.<ref name=fhhistory /> |
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In the late 19th century, various parts of Stony Brook were converted into underground [[culvert]]s or [[Sewerage|sewers]]. 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, and at around the same time its waters were diverted into an intercepting sewer near the current [[Ruggles (MBTA station)|Ruggles Station]]. |
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* 1890s culverts: FH and Boylston-Centre for RR; Centre-RBX for Columbus |
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*When was Boylston-FH culverted? to Green by 1901; to FH after 1905 |
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*1897: sewer diverted |
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*1903-1905: new culvert to Charles |
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*1909: Embankment $5 million (equivalent to ${{format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|5000000|1909}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) |
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*1921: Williams to FH; south of FH |
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*FH to Hyde park...? |
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*1934: improvements in Hyde Park |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 11:09, 21 June 2020
Stony Brook is a 8-mile (13 km)-long subterranean river in Boston. The largest tributary stream of the lower Charles River, it runs mostly through conduits built to prevent flooding.[1] Stony Brook originates at Turtle Pond in the Stony Brook Reservation and flows through Hyde Park, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, and Roxbury. It empties into the Charles River Basin just upstream of the Massachusetts Avenue bridge.
History
Stony Brook originally fed into the Muddy River and the Back Bay in a windy channel.[2] It was known for its unusually clear water; a number of breweries including the Haffenreffer Brewery were located along its banks.[3] The flow also powered industry including mills and tanneries.[4] The Norfolk and Boston Turnpike was constructed along the Stony Brook valley in 1803, followed by the Boston and Providence Railroad in 1834.[3] (That section of the railroad is now the Southwest Corridor, which includes Stony Brook station.)[5]
The Stony Brook valley is very flat; during heavy rain and freshets, the brook would overflow its banks and inundate surrounding meadows. As development increased around the brook, this flooding became problematic (partially due to increased surface runoff from cleared land).[2] A section near Forest Hills station was placed in a culvert by 1845; this was extended in 1873.[4] In 1851, a segment in Roxbury east of Tremont Street was placed into a culvert. Culvert Street (now Whittier Street) was built over part of the culvert; other sections of the filled land were sold for development.[2] The segment from Tremont Street to the Back Bay basin was diverted into a channel under Rogers Avenue and Bryant Street (now Forsyth Street) in 1865. The segment from Roxbury Crossing (Tremont Street at Pynchon Street) to Vernon Street was channelized and covered in 1866–67, completing improvements north of Roxbury Crossing.[2]
In 1873, the city of West Roxbury channelized Stony Brook through the Roslindale and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods.[2] After the 1873 annexation of Hyde Park, the channel was extended south from Roxbury Crossing to Jamaica Plain in 1880–84.[2] In 1881–82, a 7-by-7-foot (2.1 m × 2.1 m) conduit was constructed from Bryant Street under the east bank of the Muddy River to the Charles River. The Stony Brook Gatehouse controlled the flow of the Stony Brook; under normal conditions, the full flow was directed into the new conduit.[6] The four decades of channelizing and culverting the river were done haphazardly, with varying cross sections and slopes resulting in inconsistent attainable flow rates along the river.[2] Heavy rain and melting snow in February 1886 resulted in flows of 500 cubic feet per second (14 m3/s), overwhelming the capacity of the culvert north of Roxbury Crossing. This resulted in flooding of 63 acres (25 ha) and 1,437 buildings, showing the inadequacy of the existing culverts.[2][6]
In 1887–89, a bypass conduit (the Commissioner's Channel) was constructed from Roxbury Crossing to Huntington Avenue, largely under Parker Street. It was built at a cost of $650,000 (equivalent to $20 million in 2023) and was among the largest storm sewers in the country.[2][7][6] From Huntington Avenue to the Muddy River, Stony Brook ran in a 42-foot (13 m)-wide open canal.[2] In the 1880s and 1890s, the Muddy River channel was reconstructed in the Fens under the direction of Frederick Law Olmsted to serve as a holding basin for storm overflow from the Muddy River and Stony Brook.[6] The railroad was raised onto an embankment through the Stony Brook Valley in the 1890s to eliminate grade crossings, and Columbus Avenue was widened around the same time.[4]
References
- ^ Weiskel, Peter K.; Barlow, Lora K.; Smieszek, Tomas W. "Water Resources and the Urban Environment, Lower Charles River Watershed, Massachusetts, 1630–2005". CIR 1280, Water Resources and the Urban Environment, Lower Charles River Watershed, Massachusetts, 1630–2005. US Geological Survey, US Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Carter, Henry H. (October 1892). "Stony Brook Improvement". Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies. 11 (2). Association of Engineering Societies: 500–513 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b "Stony Brook". Heart of the City Project. Center for Urban and Regional Policy, Northeastern University. 2002. Archived from the original on September 7, 2006.
- ^ a b c Heath, Richard (January 25, 2013). "A HISTORY OF FOREST HILLS" (PDF). Jamaica Plain Historical Society.
- ^ Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
- ^ a b c d "Report of the Boston Landmarks Commission on the potential designation of BACK BAY FENS as a Landmark under Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended" (PDF). Boston Landmarks Commission. 1983.
- ^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
External links
Media related to Stony Brook (Boston, Massachusetts) at Wikimedia Commons