The first settlers in Chelsea knew the area by the name of
Winnisimmet. A name derived from the Indian language of the tribe of
Pawtuckets Indians who were settled here. The name Winnisimmet, in
the language of the Indians means “good spring nearby”. The
name was well applied because Chelsea was blessed with many fine
springs, natural outlets by which ground water reaches the surface.
Most of the Town’s well were fed by these springs.
In 1835, a farm belonging to Josiah Sanderson occupied the
southeast corner of Essex and Shawmut Street. There was a very large
well on the farm known as the “Sanderson well,” that had an
unlimited supply of water. The water from this well was used to
provide ships coming into Boston harbor with fresh drinkable water.
Huge casks were filled from the well, loaded on “water
boats,” and transported to the ships in the harbor. This method
was used until 1848 when Cochituate water was piped into Boston.
Before the use of Sanderson’s well, a well in the rear of Bisbee’s
foundry on Marginal Street was used to supply the water boats.
Another well used for this purpose was near the ferry slip about
fifty feet east from Shawmut Street, midway between Suffolk and
Marginal Streets.
It was stated that bog iron ore was dug out of the property of
John W. Mills in Prattville, and used in the manufacture of cannon
for the Revolutionary War. On Mr. Mills property just north of his
house was a limitless running spring, (between Cook and Springvale
Avenues today). It was believed that the water contained iron and had
beneficial results. People from the village used to travel regularly
to Prattville to obtain the water for their families. The Mount
Washington Spring House was erected about where Voke Park is today,
to retail the water. Inhabitants of the Boston vicinity would spend a
day’s travel just to partake of Prattville’s health beverage.
Although the water was considered healthy for men, it was considered
more beneficial for pregnant women.
An enterprising company purchased the land near Everett Springs,
Malden (Everett) and began retailing that spring water, as a health
drink, for four cents a gallon
Spring water to the people of Chelsea was of great importance. The
demand was great but there were many farms throughout the town that
had springs boiling up from the ground and ran to waste. The influx
of population and the increased home construction brought on by the
Land Companies along with the introduction of piped water to the city
in 1867 and 1868 brought a bust to the spring water boom.
The legal voters of Chelsea voted to have water piped into the
City from the Mystic Lakes. The vote was taken on the ninety-second
anniversary of the Battle of Chelsea Creek, May 27th, 1867. The vote
was eight-hundred thirty-two in favor to seventy-five against. On the
morning of Thursday July 11, 1867, ground was broken. On Thursday
November 21, 1867, water was turned on for the first time in the City
of Chelsea. A special fountain was erected by the committee in
Chelsea Square. Thousands of citizens came to witness and released a
loud cheer as a column of water ascended into the air. That was the
demise of dependency on Springs and wells in the City.