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=Arlington Reservoir Gets Facelift=
by Jay Hobson and Katelyn Haggerty <br>
[http://areanewsgroup.com/archives/2007/0727/Salem.html Link]<br>
The Arlington Reservoir has been a summer cooling off spot for generations of Salem residents and is getting a much needed “facelift,” according to Town of Salem Director of Engineering Bob Puff.<br>

“The project began in the fall 2006 and should be wrapped up by this fall.  The old girl is getting a facelift that should fix the problems, and then we’ll implement a routine inspection program,” Director of Engineering Puff said.<br>

The project, with a price tag of $1.5 million, is an effort to prevent and repair minor cracking and seepage problems at the 84 year-old dam.  In 1983, the pond was drained in order to repair the aging dam, but after inspections by engineers, it was deemed possible to make the repairs without draining the reservoir.

Though referred to as Arlington Pond by Salem residents, the real name is Arlington Reservoir.  According to the popular historical book Images of America, Salem, NH, Volume I, by Katherine Khalife and Douglas W. Seed, submerged at the bottom of Arlington Pond are the ruins of John W. Wheeler’s textile mill.  A mill site since before 1750, the property was purchased by Wheeler in 1860.  Wheeler had manufactured flannels and blankets in 1881.  After suffering two fires and two rebuilds, another fire prior to 1909 finally destroyed the business once and for all.  

In 1920, the powerful Arlington Mills of Lawrence bought the remains of Wheeler’s Mill, along with 350 acres in North Salem.  The grand plan was to dam the Spicket River and create a billion-gallon reservoir.  Successful completion of the project would assure a steady flow of water to keep Arlington’s downstream looms producing year-round.

Along with Wheeler’s Mill and the old North Main Street, some 50 homes, an electric generating plant, and thousands of trees fell victim to the huge Arlington Reservoir project.  

Not since Lawrence’s Great Stone Dam was built in 1845 had the area seen an engineering project of this magnitude.  The huge Arlington Dam rose 48 feet from the Spicket River’s bed.  A 550-foot concrete-cored dike was built some distance to its east, and a smaller, earthen dike was built to the west.  Trees cut from the reservoir site yielded over a million feet of lumber – some of which was used as framing for the concrete work.  

Construction of the Arlington Dam and reservoir took most of three years to complete.  It was finally filled in the spring of 1923, turning what was once a large part of North Salem into an underwater ghost town.  The dam immediately became a popular spot for picnics and sightseeing.  

We would like to thank Katherine Khalife and Douglas W. Seed for the use of their historical books on Salem and all of the information they so graciously provided.  

[[Image:Wheeler-Dam1.jpg|left|The Wheeler Mill waiting for demolition; the ruins of which are now submerged in Arlington Pond.]]
[[Image:Wheeler-Dam3.jpg|center|The old timber dam that held back the Spicket River to form Wheeler’s mill pond.]] 
The old timber dam that held back the Spicket River to form Wheeler’s mill pond
[[Image:Wheeler-Dam6.jpg|center|The 735-foot dam. Unlike today, this 1925 view shows no surrounding trees or vegetation.]] 
The 735-foot dam. Unlike today, this 1925 view shows no surrounding trees or vegetation

<br><br>The Wheeler Mill waiting for demolition; the ruins of which are now submerged in Arlington Pond

[[Image:Willow-Dam51.jpg|center|Arlington Pond. None of the original houses or structures are visible from the surface.]] 
Arlington Pond. None of the original houses or structures are visible from the surface. <br>

[[Image:Willow-Dam56.jpg|center|The 84 year old dam will be repaired by Salem engineers and finished in the fall of 2007. Minor cracking and seeping problems are to blame for the much-needed “facelift”.]]
The 84 year old dam will be repaired by Salem engineers and finished in the fall of 2007. Minor cracking and seeping problems are to blame for the much-needed “facelift”