Ashley Reservoir Cut-Off

Ashley Cut-Off

Ashley Reservoir Cut-Off

The Ashley Cut-Off (LOCATION) and the Wright Cut-Off were formed in 1897 to allow water to carry less sediment. Also the roads were widened the previous year to allow for better vehicle travel and this causeway system allow for a route around the ponds. Water still flows between these bodies of water but at a much slower rate. It had been found previously that the water was too murky.

In 1897 there was finally a buy out of many of the homes. The Bray – Drew – Jacques – Ives – Brown homes were bought.

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.

Ice House at Ashley Reservoir

Ice House at Ashley Reservoir

Holyoke had its own city-owned railroad from where the Holyoke Heritage State Park is now into Westfield. It was started in 1868 and finished in 1871 with opening day being November 28 1871. In 1902, the railroad tracks were raised by 3 feet for 1700 feet of track due to the annual floodwaters of the ponds. The line is still active and is visible by the southern end of Ashley Pond. When it gets to Bush Notch it passes by the pipeline of Ashley.

One of the heaviest users of this freight and passenger line was the Holyoke Ice Company. Their ice house is located about 40 yards from the back end of the road. (LOCATION) The masonry section of the building is still there but the wooden roof and floor are long gone. This company harvested ice from Ashley Pond from 1900 to a little after WW2. It had a spike of the railroad come up along its side in order to load ice. Andrew Dibble owned this land from 1870 to 1900. Before that Elisha Perkins owned the house. The cellar hole of his house is found 20 feet to the east of the ice house.

Sanborn 1949 map shows the ice house and a dwelling along with hen houses

Holyoke Ice Company’s Ice House