Island End Dike and Dam

The first marked change in the geography of Chelsea was made in 1789 by the construction of the Island End Dike and Dam. At high tide the sea would flow in and cover the southwesterly side of the creek and, what is now Eastern Avenue, on the east. Tide water would come in from the lower Mystic River to the west up the Island End Creek, and overflow the marshes to within a few feet of Cary Square, and up to about a block from City Hall. If Broadway had existed then it would have been under water between Cary Avenue and Parker Street. Everything east, where Eastern Avenue, Highland, Park, and part of Marginal Street are today was under water flowing in from Chelsea Creek with the high tide. On February 17, 1789, a charter was granted by the General Court, to Samuel Watts and twelve other marsh owners, to build a dike. The dike was built, extending from Jonathan Green's farm (Admiral's Hill), across a marsh and Island End River to high ground near the Everett line. This dike, after a few years, became useless. When the Winnisimmet Land Company purchased the Thomas Furber farm, comprising 133 acres of marsh land giving them a total of 200 acres of the 300 acres of marsh land. They also secured all rights to the dike. The Land Company revived the charter of 1789 and in 1845 entered into an agreement with the United States government to rebuild the dike, each party paying one-half the cost. The dike was rebuilt in accordance to plans of three of the best Civil Engineers in the country at a cost of $10,000. This dike was well built and withstood the wear for sixty-five years. It was said that in 1869 the dike and deeds were transferred to and accepted by the City of Chelsea. There was nothing in the city records of that year to show any such action occurred. The next year, there was an item in the records of 1870, of the construction of a new tide gate in the dike at a cost of $8000.00.

Location of the Island End Dike and Dam