Quabbin Drowned: Lost Towns of the Swift River Valley

In April 1938, the quintessential New England town of Enfield and its three smaller neighbors, Greenwich, Dana, and Prescott, were sacrificed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to build the Quabbin, a massive reservoir of drinking water for residents of Boston. On a somber occasion, three prominent residents of the Swift River Valley attended a farewell ball to mark the demise of their beloved communities. Marion Andrews Smith, the last surviving member of an important manufacturing family, Willard "Doc" Segur, the valley's beloved country doctor and town leader, and Edwin Henry Howe, Enfield's postmaster and general store proprietor, had dedicated decades to building their cherished community, only to watch grief-stricken as it was destroyed by 400 billion gallons of water.

The story of these communities and the people who lived there until the end is recounted by author and historian Elena Palladino. The farewell ball held in April 1938 was a poignant moment, as residents bid farewell to the towns they had known and loved. Marion Andrews Smith, Willard "Doc" Segur, and Edwin Henry Howe, all prominent figures in the Swift River Valley, were among the attendees, sharing the profound sense of loss and displacement that the community was experiencing.

For decades, these individuals had contributed to the fabric of their towns, building businesses, providing essential services, and fostering a strong sense of community. However, their efforts were ultimately overshadowed by the decision of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to sacrifice these towns for the greater good of the residents of Boston. The construction of the Quabbin Reservoir, a massive undertaking that required the flooding of the Swift River Valley, resulted in the destruction of the homes, farms, and businesses that had sustained the residents for generations.

The farewell ball, a bittersweet moment, marked the end of an era for the people of Enfield, Greenwich, Dana, and Prescott. As they gathered to say their final goodbyes, they were forced to confront the harsh reality that their beloved communities were being erased from the landscape, replaced by a vast expanse of water that would serve the needs of a distant city.

The story told by Elena Palladino is a poignant reminder of the human cost of progress, and the sacrifices that communities sometimes must make for the greater good. Through the eyes of Smith, Segur, Howe, and the other residents, readers are able to gain a deeper understanding of the emotional and personal toll that the loss of their homes and livelihoods had on the people of the Swift River Valley.

In the end, the farewell ball and the subsequent demise of these four towns serve as a powerful testament to the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit. Despite the profound sense of loss and displacement, the residents of the Swift River Valley found ways to rebuild their lives and communities, carrying on the traditions and memories of the places they had once called home.

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