In 1873 the town of Westfield was authorized by the Legislature to construct “water works”, as it was called. The water from Moose Meadow Brook, the stream from Sand Springs, along with the water shed from surrounding hills, seemed a very likely supply, and so it was decided to purchase land and construct what is the Upper Reservoir, or Mountain Lake. The site selected was 55 acres, just south of the dwellings of O.A. Moore, and Ochterlony Moore, and owned by Oliver A. Moore and Chelsea Upson.

Construction began immediately, and was completed in 1874, at the cost to Westfield of nearly $250,000. This storage reservoir covers about 51 acres, has an average depth of 15 feet, and a capacity of 184,000,000 gallons. The lower reservoir for the distribution of the water into the pipes is near the base of Mt. Tekoa (now demolished).

Even though the cost was considerable, the town is deservedly proud of the good supply which offers excellent facilities for the prompt extinguishing of of forest fires, which was one of the primary reasons for this works. (Researched from a directory of Westfield-1887 by Montgomery Historical Society)

One by one, homes and land that were on the watershed were taken. Some were dismantled and the pieces marked so that it could be rebuilt and this material was trucked to another state. Some were taken apart and the lumber later used in other buildings and cottages–while several burned.

Several small businesses fell prey– the first being Snow’s whip Shop, Saw Mill and Grist Mill. Moore’s Mountain House, a very popular hostelry, and productive and scenic farm lands was also an early victim.  The entire water shed was planted with thousands of trees, mostly hemlock.

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