Enfield, Massachusetts

Enfield, Massachusetts was a town in Hampshire County, located in the western part of the Commonwealth. It existed from its incorporation in 1816 until 1938, when it was disincorporated to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir, the primary water supply for the Boston metropolitan area. The 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 equivalent lands of Quaboag Plantation and was first settled by European colonists around 1734, known as the District of Enfield until its official incorporation. Its early economy was based on agriculture and small-scale manufacturing. The town's history is inextricably linked to the Swift River Valley, which contained several villages including Greenwich, Dana, and Prescott. In the late 1920s, the state legislature passed the Quabbin Reservoir Act, authorizing the creation of a massive reservoir to supply water to the growing Greater Boston area. This led to the disincorporation of Enfield and three other Swift River Valley towns by 1938. All buildings were razed or moved, and cemeteries were relocated, including the Quabbin Park Cemetery in Ware, before the valley was flooded.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the former town had a total area of approximately 20.5 square miles, characterized by rolling hills and the Swift River watershed. The terrain was part of the New England Upland region of the Appalachian Mountains. The creation of the Quabbin Reservoir submerged the central village and much of the town's arable land under approximately 412 billion gallons of water. The surrounding uplands, including parts of the former town, are now protected forest within the Quabbin Reservation, which is a crucial habitat for wildlife such as the bald eagle and serves as a major watershed divide.

Demographics

As recorded in the 1930 U.S. Census, the last count before disincorporation, Enfield had a population of 1,117 residents. The population was primarily of English and Irish descent, with most residents engaged in farming, milling, or trades supporting the local agricultural economy. Following the state's takeover of the land, all residents were required to relocate, with many moving to nearby communities such as Belchertown, Ware, and Palmer. The dissolution of the community remains a significant example of eminent domain and large-scale public works displacement in American history.

Government and infrastructure

Enfield operated under the open town meeting form of government, with a board of selectmen overseeing municipal affairs. Key local infrastructure included the town's public schools, several Congregational churches, and the Boston and Albany Railroad line that ran through the Swift River Valley. The most transformative infrastructure project was the Quabbin Reservoir, built by the Metropolitan District Commission. This project required the construction of the Winsor Dam and the Goodnough Dike, and the diversion of the Swift River. Today, the area is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and is patrolled by the Massachusetts State Police.

Notable people

While few gained national fame, notable residents included local civic leaders and veterans of conflicts such as the American Civil War and World War I. The town's history is preserved by the Swift River Valley Historical Society and in the collections of nearby institutions like the Belchertown Historical Association. The story of Enfield and the other lost towns has been documented by historians such as J. R. Greene and inspired works like the novel A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr., which uses a post-apocalyptic monastery reminiscent of the valley's fate.

Category:Towns in Hampshire County, Massachusetts Category:Disincorporated towns in Massachusetts Category:Quabbin Reservoir