By O.K. Carter, Landmark Preservation Commission
Newcomers stepping off the train in Arlington in the 1890s and early 1900s–or visitors on horseback–would often be surprised to see a white powdery pallor on almost everything: Houses. Fences. Yards. Horses. Dogs.
Why so? When a community well built at the intersection of Main and Center streets came through in 1892, the fluid that emerged forth was heavily mineralized. It had a strong odor and tasted worse, residents dubbing it “Carlsbad water.”
Fortunately, livestock would drink it if they were really thirsty but, generally speaking, people would not. A livestock trough was built (and then a second trough nearby) but the well had its own pressure and flowed an estimated 50,000 gallons a day for a while. Right down the middle of Center street, which slightly slopes downhill from north to south.
A solution was needed and a two-for-one emerged: All the city’s streets were dirt in those days, which on windy days–of which there were many–tended to blow grit everywhere. Portable tanks on wagons were filled with the mineral water, that water then being sprinkled on the sandy streets. This helped but also created a problem–a white residue looking something like frost began to accumulate, itself blowing in the wind unless, of course, more mineral water was used to dampen it down.
There was also a second benefit to the portable tanks. They made it possible to take water to the occasional fire, there–in those days–to be distributed by bucket brigade until the fire was diminished.
There was also another bright note of sorts. When it rained and the white powder washed off, the town suddenly showed itself in color–sort of like switching from a black and white movie to technicolor.
Click here to read more about the history of the Downtown Arlington mineral well.
This article was written by Arlington author and historian O.K. Carter, who serves on the Landmark Preservation Commission.
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