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Newton Park and Conservation Lands
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Hemlock Gorge Reservation |
SIZE: 23 acres
LONGEST WALK : 0.8 miles (a longer walk that passes near this park)
ACQUIRED: 1895
ADMINISTERED BY:
Hemlock Gorge: Division
of Urban Parks and Recreation
Echo Bridge: Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
 FEATURES: A
National Historic Landmark, the handsome stone bridge contains the
Sudbury Aqueduct, with a pedestrian walk on top. Visitors standing
under the arch can make a fine echo and view the deep river gorge,
waterfall, and steep hemlock-covered banks. Spectacular views atop
the bridge.
HISTORY:
| 1600s |
English settlers
knew the Ponkapoag Indians built a fish weir here to trap fish
in the weir's branches, catch fish from canoes, and smoke the
fish on the river banks. |
| 1700s |
Grist mill, saw
mill, fulling mill, snuff mills, and wire mill were built nearby. |
| 1877 |
Echo Bridge built
by Boston Water Works as the second largest masonry arch in
the U. S. |
| 1895 |
Acquired by Metropolitan District Commission (MDC)
for Metropolitan Park System, one of its first purchases. |
| 1984 |
MDC water system, including Echo Bridge, taken over by newly created Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). MDC still manages Hemlock Gorge. |
| 2003 |
MDC becomes part of Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). |
| 2006 |
Echo Bridge was briefly closed to pedestrians due to concern about safety of the railings. The bridge was soon reopened after temporary fencing was installed. The MWRA and city officials are seeking funding for permanent repairs. |
ADVOCATES & CARETAKERS:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
A Walking Tour of Hemlock Gorge, by Kenneth W. Newcomb
Preserving Echo Bridge (President's message).
An AMC book,
More Nature Walks in Eastern
Massachusetts, describes an easy 1-mile walk in Hemlock Gorge.
Another AMC book, WalkBoston, describes a 3-mile walk that includes Hemlock Gorge and Newton Upper Falls.
"Echo Bridge" (a poem by Francis J. Ryan)
 Old postcards from the Newton History Museum
The
Division of Urban Parks and Recreation website has information
about this park.
Discover Historic Newton Upper Falls brochure
A book of poetry, Echoes
in Hemlock Gorge, uses this park as a theme.
Sarah Hannah is the "Poet Laureate" of the Friends of Hemlock Gorge
A new echo platform opened at the base of Echo Bridge in 2004, as part of an ongoing reconstruction project.
Boston Globe article on Echo Bridge
The park is described in the book, Walks in Wellesley.
An old postcard view of Devil's Den.
Wikipedia entry
Photo gallery
Photos on Flickr
More photos ... and more ... and still more
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