[p. 68]
Water Works, ancient but not public.
IN the April issue of the Register allusion was made to the water from a spring on
Pasture Hill being brought underground to the distillery on old Ship street. A few days since, in digging for the laying of gas pipes, several sections of that ancient aqueduct were removed.
Though long disused they are in an excellent state of preservation.
They are of spruce wood, ten inches in diameter, a dozen feet long, the two and one-half inch hole in the center through which the water flowed having been bored by hand labor with the old-time ‘pump auger.’
This last would seem a strange tool to present day mechanics and was one requiring skill as well as strength to operate.
The method of joining was simple.
One end of the pump log (so called) was smoothly tapered, much as a pencil is sharpened, and the bore in the end of the next slightly enlarged, while to prevent cleavage when driven together, a stout iron band was first driven on the outer surface.
A section cut from one of these reveals the growth of forty years, beside that of the bore, probably fifteen more.
Doubtless the trees had taken root, perhaps in
Medford soil, in ‘colony days when we were under the king.’
The finding of these and preservation of a specimen through the thoughtfulness and interest of
Miss Eliza M. Gill (who made the allusion referred to) is a way mark in
Medford history worthy of note.
A sizable specimen is added to the
Society's collection as well as to those of people interested in old, historic
Medford.
