Middlesex Fells – 1907

Like New York City, Boston protected its fresh water reservoirs with a large nature preserve north of the city.

The Middlesex Fells Reservation extends over 2200 acres and touches a half dozen communities.

It continues to provide boating, swimming, hiking, and sporting resources to Bostonians today.

This hand-colored photograph shows one feature of “The Fells”, Spot’s Pond.

The postcard was printed in Germany by the Robbins Brothers Company of Boston.

The postcard was mailed from the Malden Station in Boston by Mae Meehan who lived in Malden.

Addressed to W. H. Gibbs of Michigan City, Indiana, the postcard seems to be part of a postcard exchange between the correspondents.

Mae inscribed on the reverse of the card, her name and address – and adds only, “Thanks for card”.

I continue to be impressed with the foresight and determination of early civic leaders in the great cities of the east, New York and Boston, who pursued ambitious public works to ensure pure water for the growing population.

(New York City still has a very high quality of tap water brought in vast underground aqueducts from upstate reservoirs.