Class Q. 
 
HOUSE .... No. 1696 
 
 Cfte Commontoealtf) of ^a00ac|)U0ett0« 
 
 EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONEKS APPOINTED TO 
 INVESTIGATE AS TO THE FEASIBILITY 
 AND PROBABLE COST OF TAKING LAKE 
 QUINSIGAMOND AND ITS SHORES FOR A 
 STATE RESERVATION. 
 
 To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives. 
 
 The undersigned, a commission authorized and directed 
 by chapter 529 of the Acts of 1911 to consider the feasibility 
 and cost of taking Lake Quinsigamond with its shores as a 
 reservation, beg leave to report as follows : — 
 
 The act under which this report is made is as follows : — 
 
 An Act to provide tor an Investigation as to the Feasibility 
 AND Probable Cost of taking Lake Quinsigamjond and 
 ITS Shores for a State Reservation. 
 
 Be it enacted, etc., as follows: 
 
 Section 1. The governor, with the advice and consent of the 
 council, shall appoint three persons, residents of the county of 
 Worcester, who shall investigate the feasibility of taking Lake 
 Quinsigamond, so-called, in the city of Worcester and the town of 
 Shrewsbury, with its shores and sufficient approaches thereto, and 
 maintaining it as a city, county or state reservation. They shall, 
 report to the next general court, not later than January fifteenth, 
 stating the probable cost of the said taking, and they may expend 
 a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars in carrying out the pro- 
 visions of this act. 
 
2 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. [Feb. 
 
 Section 2. The expenses hereunder shall be paid out of an ap- 
 propriation for that purpose made by the county of Worcester. 
 
 Section 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Ap- 
 proved June 6, 1911. 
 
 In pursuance of the authority thus conferred, the commis- 
 sion has given two public hearings, one at the council cham- 
 ber of the citv hall, Worcester, on the fifth day of October, 
 1911, and one at the hall of the Worcester Board of Trade 
 on the fourth day of January, 1912. Conferences have been 
 held wi\h the selectmen of Shrewsbury and with a business 
 men's club of the same town ; numerous conferences have also 
 been held with many residents and land owners upon the 
 shores of the lake; with representatives of clubs at the lake 
 and with citizens of Worcester and Shrewsbury. The lake 
 and its environs have been inspected by the commission, and 
 they have availed themselves of the investigation and report 
 of Mr. Arthur A. Shurtlelf, landscape architect, of Boston. 
 
 Accompanying this report are two maps showing the lake 
 and so much of the shore as includes the adjacent highways. 
 Map A indicates the location and extent of private owner- 
 ship by numerical reference to the accompanying index of 
 owners, and map B forms part of the accompanying report 
 made to the commission by Mr. Arthur A. ShurtlefF. 
 
 Also accompanying this report is a list of private owners, 
 numerically arranged, to serve as an index to the numbers 
 on map A; 22 photographs giving views of the lake and its 
 residential development, and communications from boat 
 users, residents and from citizens representing public or 
 private interests at the lake. 
 
 The duties imposed upon the commission are limited to 
 a consideration of the feasibility and cost of a city, county 
 or State reservation at Lake (^uinsigamond, thereby implying 
 its desirability. It will not be irrelevant, however, to review 
 some of the conditions existing at the lake, as they were an 
 important factor in arriving at this report as justifying its 
 recommendations. 
 
 Lake Quinsigamond occupies a narrow basin about 5 miles 
 in length, lying in a northerly and southerly direction be- 
 
<b^ 
 
 
 1912.] HOUSE — No. 1696. 3 
 
 tween the city of Worcester and the town of Shrewsbury, both 
 in the county of Worcester, and extending from Lincoln 
 Street on the north to Harrington Street on the south. The 
 dividing line between Worcester and Shrewsbury extends 
 lengthwise the lake, with the greater part of its surface in 
 the town of Shrewsbury. A highway encompasses the lake 
 in some places close to its shores, and in others several hun- 
 dred feet distant. An artificial causeway divides the lake 
 nearly midway its length, having a single bridge over a 
 narrow and shallow channel, which furnishes the only water 
 communication between the divided portions of the lake. 
 The causeway supports a road forming part of the main 
 thoroughfare between the eastern and western portions of the 
 State, supplanting the old colonial highway, or " great road," 
 between Massachusetts Bay and the Connecticut River, pass- 
 ing the north end of the lake. This thoroughfare is now the 
 main or trunk line for automobiles between ISTew York and 
 Boston. The causeway also contains a single track electric 
 railway which is used jointly by a line between Worcester 
 and the city of Marlborough, by a local line from Worcester 
 along the shore of the lake on the Shrewsbury side, and by 
 the cars of the Boston & Worcester Electric Eailroad. 
 
 At the north end of the lake is a smaller body of water, 
 known as Indian Head Pond, emptying into the lake. At 
 the south end is a natural pond, known as Flint Pond, and 
 several communicating bodies of water, having ragged and 
 irregular outlines created by the flowage of low lands in 
 raising the water of the lake by a manufacturing establish- 
 ment upon the stream forming the outlet of the lake. 
 
 Quinsigamond lake is fed by springs and tributary brooks 
 and has a depth, in much of its area, of from 50 to 100 feet. 
 The shore is irregular, with bays and projecting headlands 
 for the most part wooded, and rising abruptly, giving a pan- 
 orama of such attractiveness as to compel from the visitor 
 the exclamation, " What a beautiful lake ! " 
 
 The waters of the lake, long a favorite rendezvous for the 
 few, and in earlier years the scene of aquatic sports and con- 
 tests, have now become the popular resort for the many, and 
 the center of the boating interest for a populous territory. 
 
4 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. [Feb. 
 
 Its present fleet comprises a steamboat line, 125 motor 
 boats, about 2,000 rowboats and canoes and several steam 
 launches for hire. These ply the lake wholly free from re- 
 striction or regulation of any sort, each boatman being a law 
 unto himself. The congestion in the narrow and most fre- 
 quented parts of the lake and the absence of boating regula- 
 tions renders navigation extremely unsatisfactory and for 
 small boats and canoes, unsafe. Fatalities are numerous, 
 with no organized or efficient provision for rescue or restora- 
 tion in case of accident. The discordant sounds of unmuf- 
 fled motor boats and the boisterous revelry of the inconsider- 
 ate, or evil disposed, give abundant evidence of that license 
 which immunity from all police restraint encourages. Under 
 present conditions the waters of the lake, owned by the Com- 
 monwealth and environed by scenery unexcelled among the 
 many beautiful lakes of 'New England, will soon cease to be 
 a pleasure resort for the peaceable and law-abiding, if not 
 a menace to public order and public morals. 
 
 Adequate police regulation and control, exercised by some 
 authority having jurisdiction over the entire surface of the 
 lake, with proper equipment for the saving of life from 
 drowning, seems to the commission to be urgently demanded 
 as a necessity for the promotion of public enjoyment of the 
 lake and for the preservation of public order, 
 
 ISTorth of the causeway on the Worcester side are three 
 publicly owned tracts bordering upon the lake. One is owned 
 by the Commonwealth for a State hospital; a second by the 
 Worcester JSTatural History Society for a summer camp of 
 instruction in nature study, and the third by the city of 
 Worcester as a home for its poor. ISTeither of these three 
 tracts, nor any of the shore north of the causeway on the 
 Worcester side, is open to the public, except a narrow strip 
 extending a short distance north from the causeway between 
 Lake Avenue and the lake, and including what is known as 
 Eegatta Point which, by legislative enactment, has been 
 placed under the control of the park commissioners of the 
 city of Worcester. South of the causeway on the Worcester 
 side, a tract of 110 acres bordering upon the lake is owned 
 
1912.] HOUSE — No. 1696. 5 
 
 bj tlie city of Worcester as a public park, known as Lake 
 Park. With the above exceptions the entire shore of the 
 lake upon both the Worcester and Shrewsbury sides is pri- 
 vately ov^ied. 
 
 Two pleasure resorts, privately operated, are located on 
 the Worcester and Shrewsbury shores adjacent to the cause- 
 way, known respectively as Lincoln Park and the White 
 City. Sixteen clubs, with a substantial membership, occupy 
 owned or leased club houses of attractive appearance. Nearly 
 the entire shore line not now occupied by buildings, or pub- 
 licly owned, has been subdivided into house lots and placed 
 upon the market. Upon many of these are residences, either 
 for summer use or all the year occupation, of sightly appear- 
 ance and with cleanly and well-kept surroundings. Many 
 of the bungalow type of recent erection are architecturally 
 pleasing. Some, however, show that little attention has been 
 given to conserving the attractiveness of the lake, or to san- 
 itary or aesthetic considerations. In some sections the build- 
 ings are unduly crowded; in others little regard lias been 
 given to the architecture, color, location or surroundings. 
 In some sections shelters of temporary character and un- 
 sightly appearance, injudiciously located, despoil the lake of 
 its beauty. 
 
 'No- efficient fire regulations and precautions exist to lessen 
 the risk of conflagration in congested sections. No forestry 
 regulations restrain the greedy or indifferent from denuding 
 the beautifully wooded .slopes of the lake. No efficient sani- 
 tary regulations safeguard the public health. ISTo adequate 
 police control is enforced to restrain the evil doer, or to hold 
 in check the dissolute or irresponsible, who may seek for 
 private gain to commercialize either legitimate pleasure or 
 vicious indulgence. 
 
 The police jurisdiction is divided. On one side is a grow- 
 ing municipality of 150,000 inhabitants, with varied and 
 costly interests to care for. On the other side is a small 
 town of about 2,000 inhabitants of limited resources, with a 
 scattered population almost entirely agricultural, and re- 
 moved from the activities of the lake. With few common 
 
6 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. [Feb. 
 
 interests and with no ability for proper co-operative actionj 
 it is not surprising that some conditions should exist not 
 wholly creditable to the Commonwealth, and that relief 
 should be sought, which the Commonwealth alone can afford. 
 
 Lake Quinsigamond and its wooded slopes is one of the 
 most valuable assets among the many attractive scenes which 
 enrich the Commonwealth. It ministers to the love of nature 
 and to an appreciation of its charms for a large community 
 outside its immediate vicinity. Pleasure seekers, schools, 
 clubs and various organizations from distant as well as adja- 
 cent tovsTis, and from the capital of the Commonwealth, are 
 attracted thither in increasing numbers by the facilities for 
 communication afforded by the many electric car lines, and 
 especially by the express electric line running half-hourly 
 between Boston and Worcester. To jeopardize its present 
 charm, or to neglect its future development, would be inex- 
 cusable. 
 
 After taking into account the several interests involved, 
 and in consideration of existing conditions at the lake, the 
 commission recommends that the Commonwealth set apart 
 a district covering the area inclosed by the boundary line 
 indicated upon the accompanying maps, which shall be known 
 as the Lake Quinsigamond District. 
 
 That within this district a board of commissioners shall 
 have power, prescribed by statute, to exercise police authority 
 in the enforcement of such rules and regulations upon both 
 land and water as, in their judgment, the public good may 
 require. 
 
 The proper control of the waters of the lake and the shore 
 within the contemplated district, the commission estimates, 
 will require an annual expenditure of $6,000, equally di- 
 vided between the lake and the shore. To equip the lake 
 patrol will require an expenditure of approximately $2,000 
 for motor boats equipped with life-saving apparatus. 
 
 The areas recommended by Mr, Shurtleff for taking by the 
 Commonwealth, as shown on map B, comprise a narrow strip 
 on the Shrewsbury side north of the Sanctuary, so-called, 
 and extending partially around Indian Head Pond; a small 
 
1912.] HOUSE — No. 1696. 7 
 
 tract between the north end of the lake and Lincoln Street, 
 with an adjoining triangular piece north of Lincoln Street ; 
 two tracts immediately north and south of the land of the 
 Worcester ISTatural History Society, and the entire border 
 of Flint Pond and adjacent bodies of water at the south end 
 of the lake. The commission concurs with the recommenda- 
 tions and suggestions contained in the report of Mr. Shurt- 
 leff, that the areas indicated for taking on map B, accom- 
 panying his report, should eventually become the property 
 of the Commonwealth. 
 
 In the judgment of the commission, however, the immedi- 
 ate purchase of this entire area does not seem imperative 
 nor justified by a wise economy; but forest and uncultivated 
 tracts at each end of the lake should be early acquired and 
 dedicated to the public, sufficient to provide picnic grounds, 
 boat landings without trespassing upon private property, 
 fields for athletic sports and playgrounds, objective points 
 for boatmen and canoeists, and attractive resorts for patrons 
 of the steamboat line and the public in general ; and at the 
 same time conserve the present attractive shore line and 
 secure the opportunity for intelligent supervision and future 
 development. The cost of such unimproved tracts at the 
 ends of the lake the commission estimates as $75,000, and, 
 in their judgment, the sum of $12,000 will be required for 
 their maintenance and development. 
 
 The commission, therefore, recommends an appropriation, 
 from the revenues of the Commonwealth, of the sum of $95,- 
 000 for the following purposes : the sum of $75,000 for ac- 
 quiring such forest and uncultivated land at the north and 
 south ends of the lake, and within the district, as in the jridg- 
 ment of the commission should be at once reserved for public 
 use; the sum of $12,000 for the maintenance and develop- 
 ment of land so acquired ; the sum of $6,000 for police ser- 
 vice upon the land which may be included within the district 
 and upon the waters of the lake, already owned by the Com- 
 monwealth ; and the sum of $2,000 for the equipment of the 
 lake patrol. 
 
 As the police control upon the land within the district 
 
8 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. [Feb. 
 
 will be largely substitutional to that already exercised by 
 the city of Worcester and the town of Shrewsbury, the com- 
 mission recommends that the Commonwealth be reimbursed 
 for the entire expenditure for police service upon land within 
 the dis.trict by the city of Worcester and the town of Shrews- 
 bury, in proportion to the assessed value of the taxable prop- 
 erty in each of said municipalities ; and that any municipal- 
 ity having taxable property within the district which may 
 be acquired by the Commonwealth shall be reimbursed for 
 the loss of taxes on property so acquired. 
 
 The commission also presents a bill, accompanying this 
 report, for carrying into effect the recommendations herein 
 contained. 
 
 JOHN E. THAYER. 
 
 EUFUS B. EOWLEE. 
 
 WILLIAM T. EOEBES. 
 
 Worcester, Mass., Jan. 26, 1912. 
 
I REPO 
 
 ONER 
 
A 
 
 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 
 
 LAKE QUIN5IGAM0ND COMMISSION 
 
 PLAN OF 
 
 DISTRICT BOUNDARY LIKE, 
 
 AND 
 
 TAPUNGS 
 
 TO ACCOMRANY THE REPORT OF 
 
 THE COMMISSIONERS 
 
 J.ANDS ALItEADV IN PUBUC OR SZMl PUBLK COKTROL 
 
 LANDS TO BE TA14EN 
 
 LANDS C0NTR0UEDBY¥ORCEST£RPARR COMMISSION 
 
1912.1 HOUSE — No. 1696. 
 
 EEPOET OF AETHUR A. SHURTLEFF, LAIStD- 
 SCAPE AECHI OT. 
 
 Lake Qiiinsigamond is now passing rapidly through, a his- 
 tory of gradual degradation which has been the lot of many 
 similar pleasure resorts owned by private individuals and 
 subject to no comprehensive scheme of control. The well- 
 known experience of Boston in parallel conditions at the 
 ISTeponset Eiver, Muddy Eiver and at Eevere Beach illus- 
 trates not only the appalling degree to which such landscapes 
 and living conditions may finally suffer for want of needed 
 control, but also the prompt success and lasting satisfaction 
 which may be expected from systematic work of protection, 
 improvement and maintenance intrusted to properly consti- 
 tuted commissions. Unless the public takes a hand after this 
 manner in the preservation of the shores of the lake, this 
 great natural recreation ground will soon be mutilated beyond 
 repair, and a nuisance of unsanitary conditions will exist 
 there. 
 
 A gi'owing city rapidly modifies the natural landscapes of 
 its environs and tends finally to destroy them absolutely. 
 The finer such landscapes and the greater the number of 
 persons resorting to them for recreation and residence, the 
 sooner their destruction is brought about. Eapid, indiscrim- 
 inate occupation of such territory by dwellings and the con- 
 sequent removal of forest cover, the obliterating of gTass 
 land, the erosion of hillsides and the pollution of waters, 
 automatically destroy the very beauty which at first brought 
 the householder and the visitor to it. The destruction of 
 this beauty and the decline of its associated recreative attrac- 
 tiveness usually brings about a shift in population ; old resi- 
 dents move away, land is further subdivided and dwellings 
 increase rapidly. When this shift brings in permanent resi- 
 
10 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. [Feb. 
 
 dents with stores, schools, churches, proper streets and 
 sewers, desirable living conditions naturally follow. When, 
 on the contrary, this shift brings in a moving population 
 subsisting upon pleasure seekers, through the operation of 
 dance halls, theatres, eating booths, catch-penny shows and 
 shanty homes, a public nuisance is bound to follow. A period 
 of shift of this kind has begun at Lake Quinsigamond. Its 
 famous landscapes, though still largely intact, have suffered 
 serious inroads by the destruction of woodland, filling of 
 shores, burrowing of banks, construction of shacks and other 
 works. Changes of this kind which have taken place during 
 the last three years about the lake show clearly that, unless 
 some check is exercised by the public the landscapes of this 
 water sheet will soon be hurt seriously, and a rapid exodus 
 of the more permanent residents will follow. The incoming 
 tide of cheap amusements, dance halls and shanty homes, 
 with their unsanitary living conditions, may then be ex- 
 pected to gain complete control as the larger estates change 
 hands and are cut up into petty camp sites. The need of 
 public control is plain; it should be secured before devasta- 
 tion has proceeded to an extreme and while unoccupied land 
 can be acquired at moderate cost. 
 
 The report of the commissioners discusses at leng-th a plan 
 of district control, which, if put in operation, would con- 
 serve the beauty and usefulness of the lake and leave in the 
 hands of the present owners the greatest individual freedom 
 for the development of their land compatible with the inter- 
 ests of the public at large. This plan should be of especial 
 interest to the individual property holders, because it offers 
 them the only assurance for keeping intact the charms of 
 the lake, for its sanitation and for its public safety. The 
 perpetuation of private OA\Tiership upon the immediate lake 
 shores, if properly guarded, should tend to advance rather 
 than to injure the attractiveness of the lake landscapes. In 
 the course of time attractive villas and clubs are likely to be 
 built upon such holdings, making pleasing and lively con- 
 trast with the adjoining woodlands and with extensive public 
 lands at the extremities of the lake. In my opinion the tak- 
 
1912.] HOUSE — No. 1696. 11 
 
 ing of large tracts of unimproved land at the northern and 
 sonthen ends of Lake Quinsigamond is very essential to a 
 farsighted policy for the preservation of its landscapes. The 
 northern territory is remarkably interesting topographically, 
 and abounds in fine woodland upon abrupt knolls. The 
 southerly ramifications of the lake in Flint Pond are also 
 exceedingly fine, but less abnipt in character, and afford 
 fine opportunity for extensive pi ay fields and picnic grounds. 
 A large part of these lands at both extremities of the lake 
 are unsuitable for building purposes, either owing to their 
 extraordinary steepness or their low marshy character. 
 These very characteristics, however, recommend them for 
 park purposes. I have examined these tracts in detail, and 
 I indicate upon the accompanying plan the limits of the tak- 
 ings which seem to me desirable. 
 
 I also strongly advise the taking of the several islands in 
 the lake which are united by Harrington Street. These 
 islands and adjoining peninsulas, if owned by the public, 
 would provide needed recreation grounds for a constantly 
 increasing pleasure-going community, and, at the same time, 
 would afford the best protection to the wider water views of 
 the lake. The smaller islands are less essential for recreative 
 use, but, as time goes by, they will become more important 
 features in the lake prospects. Some of them might be ac- 
 quired later if need be, but others should be allowed to become 
 sites for attractive villas or boat clubs under the supervision 
 of a commission. 
 
 There is a long, narrow reach of picturesque and exceed- 
 ingly steep-wooded shore between the lake and Quinsigamond 
 Avenue, north of the Sanctuary, which is not suited to build- 
 ing operations, but which contributes in an important way 
 to the romantic landscapes of this part of the water sheet. 
 It is essential to prevent shacks from gaining a further foot- 
 hold upon this territory, and I strongly recommend takings 
 from the Sanctuary northward to Seal's Head Bay, as indi- 
 cated on the plan. Takings immediately south and north 
 of the Worcester iN'atural History Society's park and on Lin- 
 coln Street also seem to me important. These lands lie so 
 
12 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. [Feb. 
 
 close to the water's edge that their development cannot wisely 
 be left to individual owners. 
 
 The outlines of the Quinsigamond Lake District have been 
 studied with a view to include the smallest possible amount 
 of territory commensurate with a proper protection of the 
 lake for the purposes which the commission discusses fully in 
 its report. Along the borders of Quinsigamond Avenue this 
 district line is drawn with few exceptions at a uniform dis- 
 tance of 100 feet from the easterly side line of the street. 
 ISTear Old Faith and Duck harbor the line swings consider- 
 ably further toward the east, in order to protect shores which 
 are exceedingly narrow and above which small shacks are 
 now perching on an extended high terrace. In the vicinity 
 of Flint Pond, where land is unimproved and inexpensive, 
 the district line is drawn at a greater distance from the 
 water. It follows the railway track closely to the vicinity of 
 the ice houses ^ and then returns to the ISForth Grafton Road 
 at a minimum distance of 100 feet. Adjoining Lake Ave- 
 nue the district line follows the railroad tracks as far as the 
 Circuit Road, and then returns to the neighborhood of the 
 lake as indicated. Following the line of Coburn Avenue at 
 its northerly end, the district line is carried directly to the 
 westerly margin of the Worcester ^Natural History Park, 
 from which point it makes a circuit of the northern end of 
 the lake, conforming closely to topographical lines and high- 
 ways, and finally returns to the margin of Quinsigamond 
 Avenue just inland from Summer Point. 
 
 The establishment of these functional lines, combined with 
 the takings of land recommended under the guardianship of 
 a well-constituted commission, should secure to the public 
 for all time the beauty and highest usefulness of the lake. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 ARTHUR A. SHURTLEFF. 
 
 Jan. 12, 1912. 
 
 1 These buildings, with proper restrictions, might be allowed to continue their business 
 operations for many years. 
 
ASSACH 
 
 sID C 
 
 *lRY LI 
 
G R AFVo N 
 
 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 
 
 LAKE QUIN5IGAM0ND COMMISSION JHiEliEF^'^" 
 
 PLAN OF ( 
 
 DISTRICT BOUNDARY LIME. 
 
 AND 
 
 TAKINGS 
 TO ACCOMPANY THE REPORT OF 
 
 ARTHUB. A.SWIRTlI.n' JLANBSCAPE ARCHITECT 
 
 BOSTON. JANUARY 1312. 
 
 SCALES 
 
 ""TEET 
 
 DI5TB.ICT BOUMHARY UKS 
 -WATBR.S OF LAIVE AUD POMDS 
 
 LREADY IN PUBUC OB. *EMI PUBUC CONTIIOI. 
 
 lakds to be TAKBN 
 
 |gj.^jj LAISLDS CONTROl-LEDBy VORCESTEB.PABK. COMMI54I0M 
 
1912. 
 
 HOUSE — No. :'^96. 
 
 13 
 
 Appendix A. 
 
 Index to Property Owners on the Shore of Lake Quinsig- 
 am0nd_, arranged numerically^ corresponding with num- 
 BERS ON ACCOMPANYING MaP A, BEGINNING ON THE SoUTH 
 
 Side of the Causeway on the Worcester Side of the Lake. 
 
 1. Lincoln Park. 
 
 2. Mabel C. Crandall. 
 
 3. A. A. Coburn. 
 
 4. H. H. Bigelow heirs. 
 
 5. City of Worcester. 
 
 6. Lakeside Boat Club. 
 
 7. H. H. Merriam, trustee. 
 
 8. Y. M. C. A. 
 
 9. Jesse J. Coburn estate. 
 
 10. West Shore Association. 
 
 11. Victor Gr. Gauthier. 
 
 12. Sinai Letiecq. 
 
 13. Hattie L. Hooper. 
 
 14. Andrew J. Hooper. 
 
 15. Frederick H. Greenwood. 
 
 16. Wm. I. Mitchell. 
 
 17. James W. Fernald. 
 
 18. George E. Hapgood. 
 
 19. Walker Ice Company. 
 
 20. Engelbrekt Club. 
 
 21. W. Atlee Putnam. 
 
 22. Mary F. Washburn. 
 
 23. Quinsigamond Boat Club. 
 
 24. Chester E. Greene. 
 
 25. Louisa A. Greene. 
 
 26. John F. Smith. 
 
 27. EIroy A. Chase. 
 
 28. Harry M. Winchester. 
 
 29. M. E. D. Stoddard. 
 
 30. Amy L. Stoddard. 
 
 31. Y. M. C. A. 
 
 32. George C. Moss. 
 
 33. H. H. Bigelow estate. 
 
 34. 
 35. 
 36. 
 37. 
 38. 
 39. 
 40. 
 41. 
 42. 
 43. 
 44. 
 45. 
 46. 
 47. 
 48. 
 49. 
 50. 
 51. 
 52. 
 53. 
 54. 
 55. 
 56. 
 57. 
 58. 
 59. 
 60. 
 61. 
 62. 
 63. 
 64. 
 65. 
 66. 
 
 Howe. 
 
 Tebeau. 
 
 Holidg. 
 
 John W. Heal. 
 
 Gilmore. 
 
 Michael Valva. 
 Joseph M. Curran. 
 Fred J. Moran. 
 Dennis Tracy. 
 
 H. H. Bigelow estate. 
 John Olson. 
 Olof Person. 
 
 Enberg. 
 
 H. H. Bigelow estate. 
 Anderson & Olson. 
 Hedstrom. 
 
 Lundwall. 
 
 H. E. Johnson. 
 
 H. H. Bigelow estate. 
 Chas. Vilandre. 
 Charles C. Carlson. 
 H. H. Bigelow estate. 
 Margaret B. Smith. 
 Albini Belisle. 
 William Baker. 
 Arthur W. Wilson. 
 Ellen B. Tuttle. 
 Johanna C. Stohlberg. 
 Anna M. Trulson. 
 Everett W. Durgin. 
 Louis E. Booth. 
 Florence E. Durgin. 
 West Shore Association. 
 
14 
 
 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 67. 
 68. 
 69. 
 70. 
 71. 
 72. 
 73. 
 74. 
 75. 
 76. 
 77. 
 78. 
 79. 
 80. 
 81. 
 82. 
 83. 
 84. 
 85. 
 86. 
 87. 
 
 89. 
 90. 
 91. 
 92. 
 93. 
 94. 
 95. 
 96. 
 97. 
 98. 
 99. 
 100. 
 
 101. 
 102. 
 
 103. 
 
 104. 
 105. 
 106, 
 ]07, 
 
 Point D. and O'Hara's line. 
 
 M. J. O'Hara. 
 
 J. Alfred Johnson. 
 
 Albin Sjostrom. 
 
 Oscar Smith. 
 
 Walter H. Bosworth. 
 
 Fred and Albert Johnson. 
 
 John A. Bohlin. 
 
 John Johnson. 
 
 Jonas Johnson. 
 
 Sophia Oslund. 
 
 Gilbert Sunberg. 
 
 Hanah Dohorne. 
 
 Conrad Spongberg. 
 
 Ernest Dahlstrom. 
 
 F. J. Bosquet. 
 
 F. W. Wheeler. 
 
 Victor Roland. 
 
 Carl J. Ekstedt. 
 
 Sophia Qvarnstrom. 
 
 Fred J. Stone. 
 
 Commercial Transportation 
 
 Company. 
 Elizabeth P. Bond. 
 Crescent Club. 
 Alexander Dupree. 
 Franklin S. Fay. 
 Peter Hamel. 
 Rudolph Libby. 
 Catherine McAvey. 
 Eliza J. Newton. 
 Jesse 0. Norcross. 
 Joseph Rhodes. 
 William Van Deventer. 
 Mrs. Joseph G. Vaudriel 
 
 heirs. 
 Jessie Smith. 
 Finlayson Flax Spinning 
 
 Com^Dany. 
 Frederick and Levi F. 
 
 Flagg. 
 Henry Bartlett heirs. 
 Warren D. Hobbs. 
 Charles E. Hicks. 
 Mary S. Hastings. 
 
 108. Robert Farrington. 
 
 109. Fred J. Stone. 
 
 110. John Dohalm. 
 
 111. English Social Club. 
 
 112. Nils Vendt. 
 
 113. Samuel Maxwell. 
 
 114. John Buckley. 
 
 115. Carl E. Carlson. 
 
 116. John Hjort. 
 
 117. Alfred Jordan. 
 
 118. Joseph H. Oliver. 
 
 119. Lillian Ramsdell. 
 
 120. Joseph B. Thayer. 
 
 121. Fridolf Spets. 
 
 122. Eli L. Belisle. 
 
 123. Joseph B. Babbit. 
 
 124. Sarah J. Crosbie. 
 
 125. Carl J. Ekstedt. 
 
 126. Finlayson Flax Spinning 
 
 Company. 
 
 127. Fred J. Stone. 
 
 128. Oscar P. Hall. 
 
 129. John Johnson. 
 
 130. Carl Hanson. 
 
 131. Wilhelm Ekstrom. 
 
 132. Christina Sunberg. 
 
 133. Carl J. Ekstedt. 
 
 134. K. Ivan Schonning. 
 
 135. Augustus Salgren. 
 
 136. Jolm -Johnson. 
 
 137. John LofE. 
 
 138. Sarah A. Oliver. 
 
 139. Anglers Club. 
 
 140. Joseph H. Oliver. 
 
 141. Robert Farrington. 
 
 142. Gustaf W. Krantz. 
 
 143. John J. Crehan. 
 
 144. Charles J. and Wadla A. 
 
 Berg. 
 
 145. James H. Hollinrake. 
 
 146. Everett W. Woodhead. 
 
 147. Fred J. Stone. 
 
 148. Charles Nord. 
 
 149. Frank A. S. Morse. 
 
 150. Charles B. S. Jackson. 
 
1912.1 
 
 HOUSE — No. 1696. 
 
 15 
 
 151. Samuel May. 
 
 152. Ethel M. Welt. 
 
 153. Joseph Joubert. 
 
 154. Lena Loiseau. 
 
 155. Caroline Wright. 
 
 156. Fannie M. Holmes. 
 
 157. Addie J. Whittemore. 
 
 158. Stella A. Crandall. 
 
 159. Sarah L. Ramsdell. 
 
 160. Sadie H. Bartlett. 
 
 161. Arthur H. Leblanc. 
 
 162. Joseph Paradis heirs. 
 
 163. Mrs. Alexander C. Dapper. 
 
 164. Charles F. Joubert. 
 
 165. Ezilda P. Prodgin. 
 
 166. Joseph Thayer. 
 
 167. Mary A. Sears heirs. 
 
 168. Katherine Sayler. 
 
 169. George W. Kilmer. 
 
 170. Bridget Shields. 
 
 171. Anna Bouchard. 
 
 172. James C. Luby. 
 
 173. Mary Connolly. 
 
 174. James A. McDermott. 
 
 175. Elizabeth Bradley. 
 
 176. Tatassit Canoe Club. 
 
 177. George A. Goodnow. 
 
 178. Arthur Flagg. 
 
 179. Edward C. Carlton. 
 
 180. Emerenee Charron. 
 
 181. Formerly J. J. Quinn. 
 
 182. Eli Belisle. 
 
 183. Octave Tetrault. 
 
 184. Peter Benaglia et al. 
 
 185. Henry Young. 
 
 186. Annie G. Clark. 
 
 187. Ida A. Kilmer. 
 
 188. Mrs. Thomas Daniels. 
 
 189. Social Turn Verein Club. 
 
 190. James H. Quinn. 
 
 191. Dennis T. O'Connor. 
 
 192. August Frodigh. 
 
 193. Svea Gille Association. 
 
 194. Simon G. Friedman. 
 
 195. Michael J. Connery heirs. 
 
 196. J. J. Adams. 
 
 197. J. B. Bertels. 
 
 198. O'Hara. 
 
 199. H. H. Gabeler. 
 
 200. Washington Club. 
 
 201. Emily M. Guertin. 
 
 202. Catherine A. Horgan. 
 
 203. Octagon Club. 
 
 204. Martha M. Page and Kate 
 
 Chaffin. 
 
 205. A. M. Powell. 
 
 206. Annie M. Ewell. 
 
 207. S. E. Lawrence. 
 
 208. Ernest Stone. 
 
 209. Formerly T. C. Rice. 
 
 210. H. G. Conger. 
 
 211. Phoebe Ehnes. 
 2111/2. Wm. F. Keef. 
 
 212. J. C. Bieberbach. 
 
 213. Frank P. Macomber. 
 
 214. Henry and Julia Steinecke. 
 
 215. Mabel M. Davis. 
 
 216. Addie M. Nick. 
 
 217. Nellie F. Holman. 
 
 218. H. H. Bigelow heirs. 
 
 219. Lakeside Construction Com- 
 
 pany. 
 
 220. Haas & Fenner. 
 
 221. Mrs. Louisa Fenner. 
 
 222. F. M. Haas heirs. 
 
 223. Addie M. Nick. 
 
 224. Lakeside Construction Com- 
 
 pany. 
 
 225. Boston & Worcester Street 
 
 Railway. 
 
 226. Maurice W. Shannon. 
 
 227. Andrew G. Stanhope. 
 
 228. Fannie E. Verstine. 
 
 229. Oscar E. Bogren. 
 
 230. Waehusett Boat Club. 
 
 231. Frohsinn Society. 
 
 232. J. W. Wilbur Company. 
 
 233. Elizabeth M. Putnam. 
 
 234. William Forsberg. 
 
 235. Charles J. Jefferson. 
 
16 
 
 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 236. Warren E. Beard. 
 
 237. H. F. Dixon. 
 
 238. George A. Bourgt. 
 
 239. Francisco Giralde. 
 
 240. Ora May Irish. 
 
 241. Henry L. Thatcher. 
 
 242. Anna L. Hinchley. 
 
 243. W. Frank Ahern. 
 
 244. Timothy and Margaret Sul- 
 
 livan. 
 
 245. William J. White. 
 
 246. Arthur E. Leary. 
 
 247. George G. Barsamariam. 
 
 248. Herbert C. Bullard. 
 
 249. Lottie M. Field. 
 
 250. Comas Giard. 
 
 251. Mabel Lefort. 
 
 252. Bernard O'Beirne. 
 
 253. Peter B. Benoit. 
 
 254. Agnes Shepard. 
 
 255. William H. Boland. 
 
 256. Luciano Manzi. 
 
 257. Scandinavian Lake Associa- 
 
 tion. 
 
 258. Swedish Gymnastic Associa- 
 
 tion. 
 
 259. James W. Grady. 
 
 260. E. D. Clark and R. W. 
 
 Davis. 
 
 261. Alfred A. Parker. 
 
 262. George C. Gilmore. 
 
 263. Thomas H. Dodge heirs. 
 
 264. Adeline J. Langlois and 
 
 Rosalie F. Lesage. 
 
 265. Romeo E. Allen. 
 
 266. Christian 0. Peterson. 
 
 267. Romeo E. Allen. 
 
 268. Walter C. and Frank A. 
 
 Knowlton. 
 
 269. James W. Grady. 
 
 270. David Williams et al. 
 
 271. Arthur S. Darte. 
 
 272. Victor C. Ekstrom. 
 
 273. Edward P. Sumner. 
 
 274. Frederick A. Hawes. 
 
 275. Charles J. Cook. 
 
 276. Fred J. Stone. 
 
 277. Henry W. Briggs. 
 
 278. Sigfrid B. E. Peterson. 
 
 279. John Green. 
 
 280. Notre Dame Normal Insti- 
 
 tute. 
 
 281. S. S. and James Green. 
 
 282. S. G. Curtis. 
 
1912. 
 
 HOUSE — No. 1696. 
 
 17 
 
 Appendix B. 
 
 CoMMUNICATIOlsrS. 
 
 To John R. Thayer, Rufus B. Fowler, William T. Forbes, Lahe 
 Quinsigamond Commissioners. 
 The undersigned owners of real estate or residents upon the 
 shores of Lake Quinsigamond, in the town of Shrewsbury and 
 in the city of Worcester, appreciating the need of better police 
 supervision, and desiring that this section be made a more at- 
 tractive and desirable place of residence, as well as a more 
 orderly, safe and satisfactory pleasure and health resort for the 
 public, approve of such State control of the lake and vicinity as 
 will secure adequate police control, fire and forestry regulations, 
 reasonable restrictions as to future erections, the preservation 
 of public health and public morals, and an intelligent and wise 
 supervision in its future development, in order that the value of 
 property may be enhanced, the great scenic beauty and at- 
 tractiveness of the lake preserved, and its public and private 
 enjo3anent increased. 
 
 John Dahlman. 
 John F. Hjort. 
 John E. Olson. 
 Eh Behsle. 
 John W. Heal. 
 William S. Holliday. 
 Fred J. Moran. 
 C. F. Hedstrom. 
 Anna Trulson. 
 Margaret Ciirran. 
 Alexander Belisle. 
 W. Atlee Putnam. 
 Maude S. Norcross. 
 Octave Tetrault. 
 G. W. Kilmer. 
 Geo. A. Goodnow. 
 Annie W. Ewell. 
 Andrew G. Spets. 
 
 Carl F. Thyden. 
 Fred J. Bosquet. 
 Ernest D. Clark. 
 William Crosbie. 
 H. H. Gabeler. 
 J. C. Dapper. 
 Carl E. Carlson. 
 Sadie H. Bartlett. 
 F. P. Maeomber. 
 Oscar Smith. 
 H. E. Crandell. 
 Chas. H. Page. 
 Michael J. O'Hara. 
 Johanna C. Stohlberg. 
 Fridolf Spets. 
 Emanuel Krubbfeldt. 
 J. Alfred Nyberg. 
 John A. Magnuson. 
 
18 
 
 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 Chas. E. Hicks. 
 Dwight E. Clark. 
 Henry E. Newton. 
 George C. Gilmore. 
 S. Herbert Edgeeomb. 
 Frank A. S. Morse. 
 M. J. Sweeny. 
 B. Joseph Bertels. 
 Carl J. Ekstedt. 
 A. E. Soulliere. 
 John B. Simard. 
 
 W. A. Childs. 
 
 John Johnson. 
 
 Chester E. Greene. 
 
 Frederick Nick. 
 
 John Buckley. 
 
 Everett W. Durgin. 
 
 Scandinavian Lake Association, 
 
 per Harold Werme. 
 Nils Vendt. 
 William Forsberg. 
 Arthur S. Darte. 
 
 To John E. Thayer, Rufus B. Fowler, William T. Forbes, Lake 
 Quinsigamond Commissioners. 
 
 The undersigned owners and users of boats upon Lake Quin- 
 sigamond respectively represent that the ownership of its waters 
 is vested in the Commonwealth, and that boating upon the lake 
 has become so great that its regulation is now imperative. 
 About 125 motor boats, a steamboat line and a large number of 
 boats and canoes ply its waters during each season, and their 
 number is fast increasing. 
 
 The present lack of any supervision or control deters many 
 from the enjoyment of boating, multiplies the risk of accident 
 and deprives the lake of needed facilities for the prevention of 
 fatalities which occur each year. One or two patrolmen having 
 police authority, in swift motor boats equipped with life-saving 
 appliances, would greatly enhance the value and safety of the 
 lake as a pleasure resort. 
 
 We ask you, therefore, to urge upon the Legislature the urgent 
 necessity of police regulation exercised by some competent board 
 under the authority of the Commonwealth. 
 
 Worcester Motor Boat Club, 
 
 Arthur Burtelle, commodore. 
 John W. Heal. 
 Aurelius F. Wheeler. 
 W. A. Van Deventer. 
 Chas. D. Paterson. 
 Howard Blum. 
 Henry E. Newton. 
 Sumner G. Cooper. 
 Sidney Bergstrom. 
 Harry Mills. 
 Wm. A. Moffatt. 
 
 Henry E. Rathbun. 
 Elmer A. George. 
 Wm. L. Brown. 
 Howard E. Crandell. 
 Harry W. Dickinson. 
 Carl Sundstrom. 
 J. A. Y. Michon. 
 Gilbert Sundberg. 
 George C. Berg. 
 Oscar Pope. 
 
 Arthur Holmes, secretary. 
 C. Vernon Paterson. 
 
1912.1 HOUSE — No. 1696. 19 
 
 Worcester Natural History Society, 
 12 State Street, Worcester, Mass., Jan. 25, 1912. 
 
 To John R. Thayer, Rufus B. Fowler, William T. Forbes, Lake 
 Quinsigamond Commissioners. 
 
 Gentlemen : — The Worcester Natural History Society owns 
 a tract of some 40 acres of land on the northwest shore of Lake 
 Quinsigamond, called the Natural History Park. 
 
 For the past twenty-seven years there has been established 
 there a summer camp for boys and girls, school teachers and 
 nature students under the auspices of the Worcester Natural 
 History Society. 
 
 As president of the society and manager of the camp from 
 June to November, and visiting it frequently during the other 
 months of the year, I have become quite familiar with condi- 
 tions at that end of the lake. I think it would add greatly to 
 the value of the lake to have it under proper police control. 
 
 The proposed plan to establish a district, including the lake, 
 to be under control of a commission with authority to enforce 
 wholesome rules and regulations, both upon the lake and its 
 shores, meets with my approval, and I trust the area owned by 
 the Natural History Society may be included within such a 
 district. 
 
 Eespectfully yours, 
 
 (Signed) A. H. EAYMENTON. 
 
 The Young Men's Christian Association, 
 Worcester, Mass., Jan. 15, 1912. 
 
 To the Lake Quinsigamond Commission, Mr. R. B. Fowleb, Secre- 
 tary. 
 
 Gentlemen : — In behalf of the Young Men's Christian As- 
 sociation of the city of Worcester I desire to express to your 
 honorable body our earnest hope that the State may consider 
 favorably the report of your commission and accept your recom- 
 mendations. 
 
 For twenty-three years this association has conducted summer 
 work at Lake Quinsigamond. As you know, we have quite a 
 plant of our own, with attractive boat house, complete equip- 
 ment, etc. We also have a beautiful camp site just below 
 Lake Park, but have never been able to use the latter satisfac- 
 torily because of the lack of police protection. 
 
20 LAKE QUINSIGAMOND. [Feb. 
 
 The future of our work at the lake is quite a question because 
 of the rapid growth of lawlessness and disorder. Last summer 
 is was actually unsafe for our members to be out in canoes or 
 rowboats in the evening because of the recklessness of the owners 
 of auto boats; also the conditions along the shores of the lake 
 were far from desirable. 
 
 Lake Quinsigamond is a great asset to the city of Worcester 
 for weal or woe. Governed as it is at present, it is certainly 
 running down, and we feel that about the only hope for it is in 
 some such plan as your commission has outlined. 
 
 Eespectfully yours, 
 
 (Signed) F. L. WILLIS, 
 General Secretary. 
 
 WoECEsTER, Mass., Jan. 12, 1912. 
 RuFus B. Fowler, Esq. 
 
 Deae Sik : — The Quinsigamond Boat Club has been in exist- 
 ence since 1857. Our present club house was built in 1884 and 
 we have a membership of about 100. We have seen the crowds 
 at the lake increasing year by year, and are naturally much in- 
 terested in the preservation of order there. At present, though 
 there is slight police control on the Worcester shore there is less 
 than that upon the Shrewsbury side and none at all upon the 
 water itself. While I cannot speak officially for the Q. B. C, 
 I am personally strongly in favor of the plan as outlined by you 
 at the hearing in the Board of Trade Hall. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 (Signed) OLIVEE H. EVEEETT, 
 
 President Quinsigamond Boat Club. 
 
 Worcester, Mass., Jan. 12, 1912. 
 
 Mr. RuFUS FovTLER, Chairman Quinsigamond Lake Commission, 
 Worcester, Mass. 
 My dear Mr. Eowler : — I am very sorry that the Quinsiga- 
 mond Boat Club, the oldest and probably the best known of the 
 lake clubs, will not have a meeting until after your report has 
 gone into the Legislature, and consequently I cannot endorse 
 your scheme as an officer of the club. Individually, I was abso- 
 
1912.] HOUSE — No. 1696. 21 
 
 lutely converted by the meeting last week, and would be glad to 
 do anything in my power to help the plan as outlined by you 
 that night. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 (Signed) L. F. WOODWAED. 
 
 The Worcestee National Bank, 
 
 WoHCESTEH, Mass., Jan. 12, 1912. 
 
 Mr. RuFUS B. Fowler, Secretary of the Commission of the State 
 Reservation for Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass. 
 
 Dear Sir : — As one of the older members of the Quinsiga- 
 mond Boat Club, I have been a frequent visitor to the lake for 
 fifty years, and wish to say to you that I heartily approve of the 
 plan of the reservation of the lake that is proposed by your 
 commission. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 (Signed) J. P. HAMILTOIT. 
 
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