S106 - Upper Roberts Meadow Dam, USACOE
June 28, 2010
Ms. Karen Kirk Adams
USACOE, Regulatory
696 Virginia Road
Concord MA, 01742
RE: Upper Roberts Meadow Dam Removal Project, Chesterfield Road, Northampton MA.
MHC# RC 46364
Dear Ms. Adams:
At its meeting of June 21, 2010, the Northampton Historical Commission discussed the
proposed removal of the Upper Roberts Meadow Dam. The Commission voted that the Upper
Roberts Meadow Dam is of historic interest to the City of Northampton. The dam, although
missing its pumphouse, generally retains the look it had in the past. Its association with the
Mill River Flood also lends it a unique story, and its engineering was very different from many
preceding dams in the area. The Upper Roberts Meadow Dam removal project as proposed will
result in the complete removal of the 1883 dam structure. The Historical Commission
respectfully requests that the Corps of Engineers weigh the negative impacts to this resource
when considering the issuance of any required permits.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment-
Barbara B. Blumenthal
Chair, Northampton Historical Commission
Cc: Brona Simon, MassHistoric Commission
Edward Huntley, Northampton DPW, via email