Dana, Massachusetts: 1801-1938 - Ghost Towns on Waymarking.com

If you take a walk from "Quabbin Gate 40" you will be passing down a road that 70+ years ago led to the town of Dana, Massachusetts. All that remains now are a few cellar holes, an old sidewalk, and some old roads. In 1996 a monument with the inscription "To all those who sacrificed their homes and way of life" was erected.

In the late 1800's the growing city of Boston, MA was outgrowing its water sources. They began to look for alternatives and in 1926 settled on creating a reservoir by damming the Swift River and turning the Swift River Valley into a reservoir.

In April 1938 the towns of Dana, Precott, Enfield and Grenwich were disincorporated. The town memorials and cemeteries were moved and the houses and buildings were taken down. In 1939 with the towns stripped bare and the dams built, the reservoir began to fill. It took 7 years for the valley to fill into what is now the Quabbin Reservoir.

The disincorporation of these towns left many people very bitter. Their land, homes and ways of life were taken away to provide water for people at the other end of the state. Survivors of this action still meet monthly at the Quabbin Visitor Center to socialize and talk about what they lost.

Today the Quabbin is a mecca for hikers, bikers, birdwatchers, fisherman and hunters. The area is large and very diverse and is populated by deer, moose, bears, bobcats and bald eagles to name a few.

By taking the walk to Dana Common you can visit a quiet spot that was at one time a busy little town, until Boston came calling for water.

Reason for Abandonment: Economic Date Abandoned: 04/28/1938 Related Web Page: [Web Link]

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