A lonely, deserted town common in the middle of the Quabbin Reservoir’s Western Massachusetts wilderness is all that remains of the former town of Dana, MA. The small town, along with its Swift Valley neighbors Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott, was flooded in 1938 to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir.
Dana Town Common
As we walked down the old, still paved road to Dana, MA, we tried to imagine what the area would have looked like at the turn of the 20th century. Where there are now tall pines and oaks, there were fields full of livestock and produce. Old stone walls and occasional remains of foundations hearken to different times.
We have seen stone walls in the woods before. However, this walk had a different feel than our previous hikes. Dana wasn’t abandoned because the town could survive economically. People didn’t leave willfully to seek better opportunities elsewhere. Residents were told that they had to leave. Families that had been in the towns were displaced. Benny thinks I have a flair for the dramatic, but I would say that there was a sadness in the air.
Why were these towns abandoned? To make a long story short, Boston needed more water. The Swift Valley looked like it was the perfect place for a reservoir. The four soon-to-be flooded towns didn’t have enough clout in the Massachusetts Legislature to block the project.
Of course, that’s our incredibly concise interpretation of how events passed. The Swift River Valley Historical Society has dedicated itself to preserving the memories and histories of the four flooded towns, and anyone interested in the area should check them out. It’s a fascinating story and local historians do the story more justice than we ever could.
After a mile and a half walk from Gate 40 on Petersham Road in Petersham, MA, we reached the Dana Town Common. The state still mows the grass and a couple of small nearby fields.
It’s eerily quiet at the common. It feels more like a cemetery than a common.
Quabbin Reservoir
After our trek to Dana Town Common, we went to The Quabbin Reservoir Visitor Center, in Belchertown, MA. There are amazing views of the 38-square-mile reservoir. However, we couldn’t help but imagine the submerged towns. Also, the islands in the Quabbin Reservoir are actually former mountain tops. Enjoying such gorgeous views is bittersweet.
The nearby Winsor Dam is within a walk-able distance from the main parking lot. It’s a closed road that’s open to walking and running. We saw a few families biking with their children also.
Our next stop was the Enfield Outlook. The view from here looks over the former location of the town of Enfield. There are picnic tables, and it’s a good place to spend some time taking in the scenery.
The Goodnough Dike is worth checking out also. Because getting there entails a short drive and about a mile walk, there are fewer people. In fact, we had the place to ourselves.
A trip to Dana and the Quabbin Reservoir is a must for anyone who wants to learn a forgotten piece of Massachusetts history.
Keep in mind, because the reservoir is a public water supply, no dogs are allowed.
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