National Register of Historic Places

Hopkinton Dam and Spillway

Ashland, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Listed
January 18, 1990
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
89002288

About this property

The Hopkinton Dam and Spillway is a historic site at the eastern end of Hopkinton Reservoir in Hopkinton State Park in Ashland, Massachusetts. The western end of the reservoir lies in the town of Hopkinton. The reservoir was constructed between 1891 and 1894 as part of the city of Boston's second major water works project, the impoundment of significant portions of the Sudbury River watershed. The Hopkinton Dam impounds Indian Brook, a Sudbury River tributary, creating the reservoir to its south. The core of the dam is concrete, with earthen embankments that are bermed on the water side, with rip-rap below. The spillway is at the northern end of the dam, and is a 650-foot (200 m) series of steps lined with granite set in concrete. Unlike other dams in the system, this one apparently never had gatehouses built above the chambers from which water flow is controlled. The dam and spillway were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Location

Ashland, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
42.25750, -71.51133

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTENGINEERINGPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Hopkinton Dam and Spillway

This page lists Hopkinton Dam and Spillway. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Hopkinton Dam and Spillway report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

South Union School
Civil War
1.2 mi
Hopkinton Supply Co. Building
Industrial
2 mi
Ashland Town House
Industrial
2.3 mi
Ashland Dam and Spillway
Industrial
2.7 mi
Sudbury Dam Historic District
Listed
3.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Raid on Marlborough 1704
1704Colonial
6.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hopkinton Dam and Spillway listed on the National Register?

Hopkinton Dam and Spillway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 18, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Hopkinton Dam and Spillway?

Hopkinton Dam and Spillway is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hopkinton Dam and Spillway?

The period of significance for Hopkinton Dam and Spillway is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hopkinton Dam and Spillway?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Hopkinton Dam and Spillway will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Middlesex County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Middlesex County.

Explore MiddlesexCounty ›

More historic places in Massachusetts

Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.

View Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Massachusetts history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Massachusettshistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Hopkinton Dam and Spillway will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report