DID YOU KNOW... "Reservoir Dogs" (as in the title of that 1992 Quentin Tarantino film) originates from a slang term for criminals who snitch on (or "rat out") each other to the police. The slang itself coming from the particularly large rats which would be found around reservoirs; the "biggest of all rats."
I remember my grandmother telling me about the way Scituate was prior to the Providence Reservoir Project. I have a book that was hers, that explains the history of the loss of life, land, animals that were lost or moved. So many farmers lost their livelihoods, home, businesses etc. While the Reservoir is beautiful and has provided millions with water for so long, it really was a tragedy to all of the folks who lost everything they had. I am glad that you shared this part of Scituate History on RUclips. Thank you for researching my town, and listing resources about the Scituate Reservoirs. So many people have no idea how the Reservoir came to be. I graduated from Scituate High School and I was the first class that started researching the history of Scituate by doing gravestone rubbings to follow the history of those that were lost Mr Mike Lenihan was my English teacher, and continued the research and published a book about it. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed the video! I was trying really hard to find that book (the one published as a result of the school's research). My mom retired in the late 90's but she was a business teacher at the high school for years (Jane Gershkoff-Berman). We had a copy of the book while I was growing up. I think it's currently in my parents' storage locker in FL. I did a research project in the 5th grade about the reservoir and that was probably the last time I remember seeing that book.
I lived in N.Scituate on Rockland Rd. when I was growing up and I still have family on Rockland Rd and other parts of nw R.I. I knew part of this history but never the full story. It's fascinating but also very sad. Thank you for this historical source. ~ Heather ~
Incredible step back in history. Thank you. I lived in Foster for 30 years. Ran the Barden Reservoir and the Scituate Reservoir roads weekly. Knew the history but not as in deapth as this commentary. Thanks for preserving RI history.
You've done a wonderful Job. Just when I thought I knew everything about R.I.. You are wealth of knowledge !! I will be watching your other you tube tutorials..Thank you once again for sharing!! Great presentation..
Reading thru the comments. Always something I do when something interesting is conveyed. I am new to RI, only 5.5yrs in. This place is so interesting. Never ceases to amaze me. I’m in Warwick, what a happy accident when I bought this house sight unseen. Marc we might be neighbors. If ever on Tidewater(I’m the guy who built the Quonset hut:-)
I'm closer to the Pilgrim High School area, but I know Tidewater and I think I've seen your house... The Quonset hut is almost as big as the house itself!! Funny you mentioned that too... Quonset Point and the Naval Construction Battalion (Sea Bees) is the subject of my next RI history video next week. 😉
Where is the scituate reservoir damn located? Is the damn the large ring of concrete with the waterfall you have pictured in this video? I’m a native and for 32 years have never known this existed. Thanks for the info.
@@deeeyewhy5949 There really isn't. Providence Water patrols the area and really prefers people not be out walking on the dam or close to their property. I ended up pulling off the road where the granite monument is just before the dam and walking. After a while they came for me though.
@@marcberm interesting. Do you think it was where you parked your vehicle that alerted them? Growing up I had a friend that lived right off of 116 near the water jets that change color at night. I think it was orchard but he would walk around in his backyard beyond his property with no problem shooting guns, drinking booze and causing teenage mischief. I wonder if they would notice if someone were to Park a while away and then walk a mile or two to the monument. I doubt they have cctv in the trees. But it’s a monument made with taxpayer money people should be able to see it and appreciate it especially considering how beautiful it is. So many lost so much for this bountiful water supply to allow Rhode Island to flourish its a shame the dam is so hidden. Can you at least see it from the road if my devious plan doesn’t provide results lol.
@@deeeyewhy5949 I think they actually do have cameras and motion detectors in the woods around the property and on the dam (on the valve house halfway across). It's a public road that crosses the top of the dam so no one can keep you off it, it's just hard to tell where you are, but the reservoir is to the north of the road and if you could see down the south side it's a steep embankment.
I believe you can contact Providence Water for access and permission. The latest stewardship plan appears to go into some detail about the cemeteries, access and conditions. www.potomacdwspp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2011-20_PWSBForestStewardshipPlan_RI.pdf
Both of my great grandparents on my grandmothers side had their homes on the shore of Miswansicut lake taken by the city and one of them had his very large Ice House on the lake also taken by the city. They were given peanuts by the thieves in Providence for their property. One of my grandparents who had been given $800 by the city for his property, took the city to court and was awarded $3400 based on a neutral appraisal.. That shows you how the city was doing the people in town.
How many ounces of gold was that at the time? Close to 100 since the gold standard had an ounce at around $35 till around ‘72 when Nixon killed it so in today’s money that would be about $170000 (gold retains its value and has always been considered an inflation proof asset, our government currently lies about the true figures of inflation as to keep people uninformed and complacent about the amount of wealth that had been stolen from the many by the few) still $170k for property in scituate today isn’t enough. You can’t put a price on history heritage and culture.
DID YOU KNOW... "Reservoir Dogs" (as in the title of that 1992 Quentin Tarantino film) originates from a slang term for criminals who snitch on (or "rat out") each other to the police. The slang itself coming from the particularly large rats which would be found around reservoirs; the "biggest of all rats."
I remember my grandmother telling me about the way Scituate was prior to the Providence Reservoir Project. I have a book that was hers, that explains the history of the loss of life, land, animals that were lost or moved. So many farmers lost their livelihoods, home, businesses etc. While the Reservoir is beautiful and has provided millions with water for so long, it really was a tragedy to all of the folks who lost everything they had. I am glad that you shared this part of Scituate History on RUclips. Thank you for researching my town, and listing resources about the Scituate Reservoirs. So many people have no idea how the Reservoir came to be. I graduated from Scituate High School and I was the first class that started researching the history of Scituate by doing gravestone rubbings to follow the history of those that were lost Mr Mike Lenihan was my English teacher, and continued the research and published a book about it. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed the video! I was trying really hard to find that book (the one published as a result of the school's research). My mom retired in the late 90's but she was a business teacher at the high school for years (Jane Gershkoff-Berman). We had a copy of the book while I was growing up. I think it's currently in my parents' storage locker in FL. I did a research project in the 5th grade about the reservoir and that was probably the last time I remember seeing that book.
I lived in N.Scituate on Rockland Rd. when I was growing up and I still have family on Rockland Rd and other parts of nw R.I. I knew part of this history but never the full story. It's fascinating but also very sad. Thank you for this historical source. ~ Heather ~
Incredible step back in history. Thank you. I lived in Foster for 30 years. Ran the Barden Reservoir and the Scituate Reservoir roads weekly. Knew the history but not as in deapth as this commentary. Thanks for preserving RI history.
Very welcome! So glad you enjoyed it!
You've done a wonderful Job. Just when I thought I knew everything about R.I.. You are wealth of knowledge !! I will be watching your other you tube tutorials..Thank you once again for sharing!! Great presentation..
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it!
Having lived in Southeastern Mass on my life I never knew the history of the Scituate Reservoir. Good job!
Thank you!
what a fantastic piece of work ! really well done. thank you.
Thank you Phil! I really enjoy making these videos most and have a number of subjects lined up for future episodes now. I'm glad you enjoyed this one!
@@marcberm 30 years in California, this pulled at my heartstrings. want to move back to RI !
@@philcusick3037 Hopefully I can bring back a few more memories every couple of months with this series!
Sending my full support, Tamsak my friend 🤝
Reading thru the comments. Always something I do when something interesting is conveyed. I am new to RI, only 5.5yrs in. This place is so interesting. Never ceases to amaze me. I’m in Warwick, what a happy accident when I bought this house sight unseen. Marc we might be neighbors. If ever on Tidewater(I’m the guy who built the Quonset hut:-)
I'm closer to the Pilgrim High School area, but I know Tidewater and I think I've seen your house... The Quonset hut is almost as big as the house itself!! Funny you mentioned that too... Quonset Point and the Naval Construction Battalion (Sea Bees) is the subject of my next RI history video next week. 😉
Where is the scituate reservoir damn located? Is the damn the large ring of concrete with the waterfall you have pictured in this video? I’m a native and for 32 years have never known this existed. Thanks for the info.
Route 12 passes right over the dam to the south of the reservoir.
@@marcberm is there a parking area / scenic trail that one can view this from? I drive that way often and had no idea it was there.
@@deeeyewhy5949 There really isn't. Providence Water patrols the area and really prefers people not be out walking on the dam or close to their property. I ended up pulling off the road where the granite monument is just before the dam and walking. After a while they came for me though.
@@marcberm interesting. Do you think it was where you parked your vehicle that alerted them?
Growing up I had a friend that lived right off of 116 near the water jets that change color at night. I think it was orchard but he would walk around in his backyard beyond his property with no problem shooting guns, drinking booze and causing teenage mischief. I wonder if they would notice if someone were to Park a while away and then walk a mile or two to the monument. I doubt they have cctv in the trees. But it’s a monument made with taxpayer money people should be able to see it and appreciate it especially considering how beautiful it is. So many lost so much for this bountiful water supply to allow Rhode Island to flourish its a shame the dam is so hidden. Can you at least see it from the road if my devious plan doesn’t provide results lol.
@@deeeyewhy5949 I think they actually do have cameras and motion detectors in the woods around the property and on the dam (on the valve house halfway across). It's a public road that crosses the top of the dam so no one can keep you off it, it's just hard to tell where you are, but the reservoir is to the north of the road and if you could see down the south side it's a steep embankment.
how do i access a family cemetery on the property? the historical cemetery website says it still exists on private reservoir property?
I believe you can contact Providence Water for access and permission. The latest stewardship plan appears to go into some detail about the cemeteries, access and conditions. www.potomacdwspp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2011-20_PWSBForestStewardshipPlan_RI.pdf
Both of my great grandparents on my grandmothers side had their homes on the shore of Miswansicut lake taken by the city and one of them had his very large Ice House on the lake also taken by the city. They were given peanuts by the thieves in Providence for their property. One of my grandparents who had been given $800 by the city for his property, took the city to court and was awarded $3400 based on a neutral appraisal.. That shows you how the city was doing the people in town.
How many ounces of gold was that at the time? Close to 100 since the gold standard had an ounce at around $35 till around ‘72 when Nixon killed it so in today’s money that would be about $170000 (gold retains its value and has always been considered an inflation proof asset, our government currently lies about the true figures of inflation as to keep people uninformed and complacent about the amount of wealth that had been stolen from the many by the few) still $170k for property in scituate today isn’t enough. You can’t put a price on history heritage and culture.
Any chance you can do a video on the Native Americans that once inhabited what is now the scituate reservoir lands
I could! Although it would likely be part of the wider topic of the indigenous people of all of what is now Rhode Island.
Where the former residents of Scituate compensated for their lands and properties?