Dana, Massachusetts

Dana, Massachusetts
John Phelan · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	Dana, Massachusetts
Settlement type	Ghost town
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Massachusetts
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Worcester County
Established title	Disincorporated
Established date	1938
Timezone	Eastern
Utc offset	-5
Timezone DST	EDT
Utc offset DST	-4
Blank name	GNIS feature ID

Dana, Massachusetts was a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of four towns disincorporated in 1938 to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir, the primary water supply for the Boston metropolitan area. The former town's territory is now part of the Quabbin Reservation, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

History

The area was originally part of the towns of Petersham, Greenwich, and Hardwick. It was incorporated as the town of Dana in 1801, named for Francis Dana, a prominent American Revolutionary War figure and Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The community's economy was primarily agricultural, with small-scale manufacturing in its villages of North Dana and Dana Center. The town's fate was sealed in the 1920s when the Metropolitan District Commission selected the Swift River valley for a massive reservoir. Following the passage of the Swift River Act in 1927, land acquisition and resident relocation began, with the final disincorporation occurring in 1938. The Quabbin Reservoir was filled between 1939 and 1946, completely submerging the town's central areas, including the former Dana Common Historic District.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, prior to its disincorporation, Dana had a total area of approximately 16 square miles. The town's topography was characterized by the rolling hills of the Swift River valley within the larger New England Upland region. Key geographical features included the Swift River itself, which flowed through the town, and Mount L, one of the few town landmarks not submerged by the reservoir. The former town lands are now entirely within the protected Quabbin Reservation, a vast wilderness area popular for hiking, fishing, and wildlife observation. The Enfield Lookout and the Goodnough Dike offer views over the reservoir where the town once stood.

Demographics

As a living community, Dana's population peaked in the 19th century. The United States Census of 1880 recorded a population of 795 residents. By the 1930 census, the last taken before disincorporation, the population had declined to 302 as families relocated ahead of the reservoir's creation. The demographic composition was typical of rural New England towns of the era, consisting largely of families of English and Irish descent engaged in farming and local trades. The complete evacuation of the town's residents was finalized by 1938, with many relocating to nearby communities such as Athol, Orange, and Barre.

Government

As an incorporated municipality, Dana operated under the typical New England town government system, with an annual town meeting legislative body and a board of selectmen for executive functions. The town was part of the Massachusetts House of Representatives' Worcester district and was represented in the Massachusetts Senate. Its ultimate dissolution was mandated by the Massachusetts General Court through the Swift River Act, which transferred all municipal authority and assets to the Metropolitan District Commission. Today, the land is governed as state property under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Notable people

While few gained national prominence, several individuals from Dana contributed to local and state affairs. **Francis Dana**, the town's namesake, was a delegate to the Continental Congress, signer of the Articles of Confederation, and served as an ambassador to Russia. **Charles B. Atwood**, a 19th-century resident, served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The town was also the birthplace of **Ella M. S. Marble**, a noted educator and poet in the region during the late 1800s. The experiences of Dana's residents during the Quabbin's creation have been documented by historians and authors like J. R. Greene and are featured in the collections of the Quabbin Visitor Center.

Category:Ghost towns in Massachusetts Category:Former populated places in Worcester County, Massachusetts Category:Populated places disestablished in 1938