J.R. Greene has been writing books about the Quabbin Reservoir for more than 40 years, coming at it from all different angles, including poetry, maps, history, picture postcards, hikes and more.
In his most recent publication, “The Old Quabbin Valley In 100 Objects,” Greene helps readers understand the local landmark through some of the “things” that came out of the area.
“I had all these items, and I wanted people to see what life was like before the Quabbin Reservoir was made for the people who lived in the lost towns,” Greene said.
Born and raised in Athol, Greene, 65, is a lifelong resident of the North Quabbin. In his first book in six years, the local historian presents a different kind of history of the old Swift River Valley, as it’s called.
“I used actual items from valley businesses, industries and societies to tell the story,” he said. “There are plenty of photos of the objects, the buildings where they originated and some portraits of some of the people behind them.”
The author of 21 books on the subject, he is longtime chair of the board of the Friends of Quabbin Inc. and has served as the governor’s appointee for the Quabbin and Ware River watersheds advisory board. Greene has been a collectibles dealer his entire life, as well, so the two topics seemed to fit nicely together, he said.
“I’ve been purchasing and selling postcards for many years, and I started buying items from the old Quabbin towns,” he said. “It seemed fitting to put them together and tell a story about the Quabbin through its ‘stuff.’”
Items include everything from handbills to church supper flyers to invitations to tickets.
“They are such interesting pieces of history,” he said. “Sometimes we don’t know the exact story, but they do tell stories about the people who lived and worked in those lost towns of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott.”
To build the massive reservoir that supplies Boston with its drinking water, four towns were flooded, and most of each is under water today. In the late 1920s, Boston was running out of drinking water, so the state decided to build a reservoir miles away. The four towns were disincorporated and flooded in 1938, leaving many individuals and families to find homes and work elsewhere.
“The items I’ve chosen to feature in the book aren’t particularly valuable,” Greene said, “except that they serve as a historical tool to tell us something about our neighbors of the past. It’s so interesting to see, for instance, the prices of things back then. It cost 5 cents for a coffee, 35 cents to attend a church supper. Just interesting little tidbits.”
He said the items also reflect the lifestyle people led on the Quabbin before it became a reservoir.
“Everything was right there in those towns, so people didn’t have to travel far,” he said. “One store would carry a variety of items, including food, shoes, clothing, household items. Based on the research I’ve done, most residents wouldn’t travel far for their goods — many traveled out of the area only once or twice a year.”
Greene said the book features a few items from the construction of the reservoir, including a letter from the water commissioner. He said there are signs and pins, all sorts of objects.
“Some of my books have been a straight narrative history about the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir,” he continued. “Others have focused on particular areas of the Quabbin or particular events like the Farewell Ball.
“I’ve written books about true, weird stories, the railroad that ran through the Quabbin and more. It’s been a very interesting ride.”
Greene said the idea for his latest book isn’t original — many authors have done the same, using objects to tell a story about a certain place or time.
“It’s just a different take on history,” he said. “You provide an object, tell readers about it and how it plays into history. Those little pieces of paper or metal or wood give people a glimpse into a certain place.”
Greene said he included plenty of footnotes at the back of the book so people can do their own research. He said he started studying the Quabbin when he was an undergrad at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
“I took a hike down Gate 35 in New Salem, along the railroad on one side and water on the other,” he said. “The railroad is what first interested me. I never looked back.”
He said his first book about the Quabbin, “An Atlas of the Quabbin Valley,” which he wrote in 1975, sold 10,000 copies.
“Fishermen bought it and tore the maps out,” he said. “It featured old ponds and other places on the Quabbin. They could figure out where the good fishing was by the depth of different areas on the water.”
Greene said some of his books have since gone out of print.
“I’ve been interviewing former residents of the lost towns, though there aren’t many left, since the 1970s,” he said. “I just can’t stop.”
He said most people have a “romantic fascination” with the Quabbin Reservoir, but he doesn’t think much differently of the four towns than other rural towns — they just happened to disappear for progress’ sake.
“I have more of a fascination with the people who lived there and the things that came out of there,” he said. “I’ve spent my time trying to figure out what it was like to live there and frankly, it wasn’t much different than any other town except that the area was destroyed for a water supply. I have a great deal of sympathy for people who were forced out of their homes and given very little, in most cases, to relocate.”
Greene said he hopes his latest book will help people understand the drowned towns and the people who lived in them a little better — what they did, what they enjoyed, what they liked and how they lived.
The price of the book is $19.99 and it can be purchased at several stores in the region, including Atkins Farm and A. J. Hastings Inc. in Amherst; Broadside Bookshop in Northampton; and Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley.
Reach Anita Fritz at afritz@recorder.com.