Neighborhoods

GAS, WATER AND TELEPHONE RELICS

by Kevin Walsh

By Sean Colby and Kevin Walsh

Boston Gas (Light) Company was founded in 1822. Over the years other gas companies were established around Boston as well, but in 1905 many merged, and the Boston Consolidated Gas Company formed. Boston Consolidated Gas became Boston Gas in 1955. Boston Gas eventually became a part of Eastern Enterprises, and in 2000, Keyspan Energy bought out Eastern Enterprises. Keyspan is now the fifth largest gas utility in the US and the largest in the Northeast, operating companies in Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire, including Boston Gas. At one time, Boston and the surrounding area was served by both Boston Gas and Commonwealth Gas; Boston Gas customers are now served by Keyspan, and NStar Gas serves former Com Gas customers, since Commonwealth Energy was acquired by Boston Edison and the two companies formed NStar Energy in 1999.

 

A “B.C.G.Co” valve cover in Fenway/Kenmore. These can still be seen all over the city.
A typical gas line vent on Brookline Ave. These vents vary in color; besides this black vent with a yellow top, they are also seen in solid silver, black, blue, and green.
A short silver vent on Beacon Street near Kenmore Square.
This vent on Pingree Street in Hyde Park looks similar to some NYC street vents.

Telephone and Water

 

A common “Bell System” manhole cover on Brookline Ave. These are found in areas of the city that don’t have telephone poles.
This manhole cover, located in the old Spring Lane in the Financial District, says “M T&T Co.” It was most likely part of a telephone and telegraph company, but what the “M” stands for remains a mystery, as “Massachusetts Telephone and Telegraph” never existed; phone service in Boston and New England began with the New England Telephone and Telegraph Co., which through mergers became a part of NYNEX, Bell Atlantic and ultimately Verizon.

The city of Boston gets its water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, which is then distributed to Boston homes and businesses through the pipes of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission.

 

Many water utility covers in Boston still say BWW (Boston Water Works) in addition to newer ones that say BWSC. BWSC was created in 1977.

 

History of New England Telephone and Telegraph Company from Wikipedia

Boston Water and Sewer Commission (History, service area, and division between MWRA and BWSC)

“Boston’s Groundwater Crisis: Seeking Sound Water Policies in an Unnatural Watershed” by Janice Snow

 

written June 2005

3 comments
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3 comments

the Cheese June 24, 2015 - 2:52 pm

I got an ad for NW Natural Gas (our gas company here in Portland, Oregon) on this page, which tickled me to no end.

Reply
Michael keit June 25, 2015 - 8:20 pm

Keyspan has been National Grid for several years.

Reply
Edward Findlay June 26, 2015 - 1:47 am

Boston Water Works was the name for the water system, rather than the actual agency that oversaw the water in the city. The whole water system is a state-level system since multiple cities and towns are serviced by it. It’s also one of the earliest joint-municipal projects, leading to a whole history that might make a good article…

And MT&T co? maybe it is old as 1880- possibly the Metropolitan Telephone & Telegraph Co.? Or the Maritime or Marine Telephone & Telegraph co?

Reply

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