Voices of the Swift River Valley

This is a project to help make available the oral histories of the residents of the Swift River Valley at the time the Quabbin Reservoir was created. it is using the oral histories recorded in the 1970’s by Audrey Duckert and that are available online from the UMass Library. The audio quality of the original recordings has been improved using an audio tool and an audiogram was generated. As such, while the recording was reviewed by a person, the audiogram may not necessarily be a perfect rendition of the conversation.

This is an ongoing project and more oral histories will be uploaded periodically.

Charles Baxter discussed his family’s involvement in the soapstone and lumbering trades in North Dana, Massachusetts. His grandfather, the superintendent of a soapstone plant, later bought it. Baxter recounted his early work experiences, including driving oxen and operating a sawmill. He detailed the decline of the soapstone business and the impact of the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) on local timber operations. Baxter also shared personal anecdotes, such as his father’s drowning and his own experiences with local doctors during the 1918 flu pandemic. He reflected on the changes in the valley, including the introduction of electricity by Tony Mason and the relocation of residents after the MDC took over.

Marion and Clayton discussed their early life in North Dana, including their home repairs and social activities like playing cards and sleigh rides. They reminisced about the local post office, the closure of the railroad in 1932, and the move of the Swift River Box Company to Athol in 1938. Marion shared her marriage in 1912 and her daughter’s life in Falmouth. They also touched on local historical landmarks, such as the Eagle House and the stained glass windows from their church.

On September 18, 1980, Audrey Duckert interviewed Clarence Goodnow, Putt Crowell, and George Hodgson about their experiences with the Goodnow Orchestra. They discussed the orchestra’s heyday, the transition from traditional to modern dance styles, and the impact of changing musical trends. They reminisced about specific performances, including a memorable dance in Wendell Town Hall and a challenging trip to Troy, New Hampshire, during Prohibition. They also shared anecdotes about their interactions with fans and the challenges of maintaining the orchestra. The conversation highlighted the nostalgia for the “good old days” and the evolution of dance culture.

Alice Twibel Phillips recounts her childhood in Smith’s, Massachusetts, where her father, James Twibel, worked in the woolen mill. She describes the town’s layout, including the Swift River and the Quabbin Reservoir. Alice shares memories of her family, including her siblings’ roles in the mill and their living conditions, such as using a backhouse for sanitation. She also recalls local personalities, like Lucy Reither and Marion Smith, and her experiences with spiritualism and seances. Alice reflects on her marriage, her husband’s service in World War I, and her life in Gilbertville, where she still resides.

In this 1986 oral history interview with the Friends of Quabbin, Avis Flagg Setkewich recounts her early life growing up in Dana, Massachusetts, one of the towns lost to the Quabbin Reservoir. Born in Ware in 1927, she moved to Dana when she was about four years old, the second of fifteen children in the Flagg family. She describes walking to school through town, past sugar maples and local landmarks like Hager’s Store and the Goodmans’ windmill, and fondly remembers her teachers, games of marbles and hopscotch, and sledding down hills in winter. Her father worked at the Swift River Box Company and farmed vegetables and cows, while her mother, Rachel, was known for her cooking and canning. Avis recalls Girl Scout meetings, swimming and fishing in the West Branch River, and gathering wild berries and cranberries in the surrounding woods.

She also offers vivid memories of life in Dana before its disincorporation, including the train tracks, the general stores, and the Methodist church where her family worshipped. Avis remembers watching the trees being dynamited and the houses dismantled as the Quabbin project advanced in the mid-1930s. Her father salvaged lumber from one of those homes to build a new family house after the move to Athol. Though she left Dana at age eleven, she often returned later in life to explore cellar holes, collect old bottles, and reflect on the community that once stood there—preserving its spirit through stories of neighbors, family, and everyday life in a vanished town.