Hauntin' the Quabbin by Sean Cole

The flooding of the Swift River Valley in the late 1930s to create the Quabbin Reservoir displaced 2,500 residents and destroyed four towns—Dana, Greenwich, Prescott, and Enfield—to secure a water supply for Boston. This forced relocation left a lasting legacy of heartbreak and resentment, as the government prioritized engineering needs over established communities. Former residents, who often refer to the state-hired demolition crews as "woodpeckers," maintain a deep, collective memory of their lost homes through historical societies and annual reunions. These gatherings allow survivors to revisit the sites of their former lives, now marked by cellar holes and overgrown paths. While the reservoir serves as a vital, serene resource for millions, the displaced inhabitants continue to grapple with the loss of their community, emphasizing the human cost hidden beneath the water’s surface.