Connor Reservoir of the Ashley Reservoir System

Connor Reservoir of the Ashley Reservoir System

Connor Reservoir (LOCATION) is cut off from Ashley Reservoir by Lower Westfield Road (formerly called West Road). It was formed by the raising of the road over many years in the early history of the reservoir system. At first, this was Ashley Swamp. But the road was elevated about one and one half feet. Both Connor Reservoir and North Railroad Reservoir were formed from that event. Connor Reservoir is at your feet and North Railroad Reservoir is now connected to Connor at the far left edge. A raising of the road caused there to be only one reservoir due to a breach in the causeway between them.

The reservoir was raised a few times – 1876, 1879, 1883, 1885, 1893, 1894, 1896 and 1897 were such years. This was in order to get more water. The first increase in height was in 1876 when the shore was raised by 15 inches. Of these the year 1893 was the largest increase in height – Ashley being raised 3 feet.

Another tactic to clean the water was to simply rake it so the organic matter was removed.

These reservoirs of the Ashley area get deep very quickly so there is a bit of a danger. In this area in 1910 the Water Works put up a thousand feet of pipe rail fencing to increase safety. These were maintained through the years – for instance they were painted in 1932 – but they are now gone.