Highland Park and Roxbury Standpipe

Highland Park (NR), the site of one of the important Revolutionary War forts built during the siege of Boston in 1775, caps the hill. At that time the hill offered a commanding site overlooking the only land bridge to Boston, where the British army was stationed until forced to abandon the city. Early efforts to preserve the fort failed, and in 1869 the site was used to construct a standpipe for Boston's Cochituate Water System. Designed by Nathaniel J. Bradlee, it is a fitting monument to the architect-engineer who was known for his leadership in the construction of the reservoir systems at Parker and Chestnut hills. The Gothic-style brick tower served as an ornamental landmark in the center of the park, which was open to the public for views of city. On the streets facing the park were constructed fashionable town houses. In this way the standpipe and park served to promote development in much the same manner as the Bunker Hill Monument (see CH6) in Charlestown. At its centennial in 1875, efforts began to commemorate the site of the fort. Between 1895 and 1916, the Olmsted Brothers designed improvements to the park, which included features that approximated the configuration of the fortifications. The standpipe is no longer open to the public.