Lagoon Pond Station  – Then and Now

The Oak Bluffs Pumping Station is currently listed with the Massachusetts Historic Commission and is also recognized by the Massachusetts Water Works Association as the oldest operating ground water supply in the state.

In the mid-1800’s Cottage City was a bustling resort community. The downtown area had many large wood frame hotels. Also popular was the Martha’s Vineyard Campmeeting Association where small homes were built within a few feet from each other. 

In 1882, the neighboring Town of Vineyard Haven suffered a major fire that burned down several wooden structures. The people of Cottage City witnessed how difficult the Vineyard Haven fire was to contain due to the limited amount of water that was available to fight the fire. That year Cottage City voted to install fire hydrants in the downtown area and in the Campgrounds. A pumping station was also proposed using Campmeeting land at the head of the Upper Lagoon Pond.

Over the next several years Cottage City continued to work toward having a robust water system.

  • In February of 1883, plans were prepared to create the Cottage City Water Works, but due to financial issues, the project was not fully completed. Concurrently, a fishery called Lagoon Pond Fish Company was formed.

  • In early 1884, the Lagoon Pond Fish Company was purchased by the Beech Grove Mineral Spring Company. This new company installed reservoirs and piping at the Upper Lagoon to better supply the town.

  • In 1888, noted engineer William Wheeler (University of Massachusetts graduate 1871) became a partner in this project. Under Wheeler, the fire protection and potable water supply were merged together as the Cottage City Water Company. 

  • By 1898 there were 370 water customers and 65 fire hydrants.

The original Lagoon Pond Pump Station contained extremely technical machines to pump water toward Cottage City.  This included a Deane Compound Duplex Engine, a coal fired Horizontal Tubular Mumford Boiler and a Worthington Triple Expansion Pumping Engine. The original building that housed this equipment is still in use today and contains modern pumping equipment. 

– History Gathered by Former Oak Bluffs Water District Superintendent Steve Kenney