From Dave Brigham:
Cistern: Middle English origin (1250-1300); a reservoir, tank, or container for storing or holding water or other liquid. So says Dictionary.com. I've known this word for years, but when I saw "The Cistern" pop up on Google Maps in West Medford, Mass., I was confused. Why is a holding tank at the southern end of Lower Mystic Lake pinned on a digital map?
I can't say I have a good answer.
Located at the point where the lake empties into the Mystic River, the cistern is marked on a rounded spit of land just west of the Mystic Valley Parkway, spilling over the border into Arlington. I'm unsure whether the term "cistern" refers to a holding tank located under the site, or to the funnel-shaped area where the lake drains into the river.
There is obviously something under this parkland, which includes picnic areas and walking paths.
According to Wikipedia, "Present-day cisterns are often used only for irrigation due to concerns over water quality. Cisterns today can also be outfitted with filters or other water purification methods when the water is intended for consumption. It is not uncommon for a cistern to be open in some manner in order to catch rain or to include more elaborate rainwater harvesting systems. It is important in these cases to have a system that does not leave the water open to algae or to mosquitoes, which are attracted to the water and then potentially carry disease to nearby humans."
Perhaps the cistern is a relic from the days when the Middlesex Canal was in operation along the eastern shore of the Mystic Lakes from 1803 to 1851, part of the route connecting Lowell to Boston's Charlestown neighborhood. By the way, make sure to check back in the near future for a post about a former canal towpath located in neighborning Woburn.
If anybody can tell me more about The Cistern, I'm all ears.
Here's your headline explainer:
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