Williamsbridge Reservoir Traditional Geocache
New York Admin: Regrettably there has been no response from the cache owner placing me in a position where I must archive this cache. Caches archived by a reviewer or HQ staff for lack of maintenance or failure to respond can not be unarchived.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This cache will bring you to the site of the former Williamsbridge Reservoir.
Now, most commonly referred to as the Williamsbridge Oval, this site was a natural lake that was converted into a reservoir in the 1880s. The reservoir was part of the Bronx-Byram System, designed to increase the freshwater supply to New York City. Water flowed to Williamsbridge though a system of pipes coming from a precursor to today's Kensico Reservoir.
The original Croton system was already in place and had been in operation since the 1840s. The new Bronx-Byram System which included the Williamsbridge Reservoir did not add a significant amount of water to New York's supply, and was quickly overshadowed when the New Croton Aqueduct opened in 1890. The Bronx-Byram System, including the Williamsbridge Reservoir was taken offline in 1919.
The reservoir turned into a local swimming hole after it closed. In 1934, the Parks department got their hands on the property and Robert Moses came up with plans to turn it into a stadium. The neighborhood came together and protested that plan, and a new plan was agreed upon. What you see at the oval today represents that plan. Not much has changed. It is really quite an impressive site. It still resembles the shape of the reservoir. The embankment around the perimeter has been made into a tree lined promenade and there are all sorts of sports fields in the center and a recreation center on the south side.
Be sure to take a look at the Reservoir Keeper's House on the north side of the oval. It was built from stone excavated during the construction of the reservoir and is really quite a beautiful building. Also be sure to check out the tunnel through the embankment on the southwest side of the oval.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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