98 NATURAL HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF GROTON, MASS. 



William Jevvett Boynton each paid one-tenth. Of these men 

 now there are no survivors. 



The depth of the well is twenty-eight feet ; the chamber or 

 reservoir at the bottom is large and irregular, and seems to 

 be in solid rock, although the water drips continually from the 

 sides, showing the existence of numerous seams which are 

 imperceptible to the naked eye. The first eight feet were 

 excavated by picks and spades, and the remaining portion was 

 blasted out with powder. The blasting was done under the 

 supervision of John Simonds, and no accident occurred as the 

 result of this part of the work, although there were on an 

 average three blasts daily during much of the time. When 

 the springs are full, the depth of water measures about twenty 

 feet, but during a drought this is reduced to four feet, more 

 or less. The water is very cold and clear, and excellent for 

 drinking purposes, and is used the year round by many house- 

 holds in the neighborhood, who have no other source of sup- 

 ply. In dry seasons more than thirty families are dependent 

 upon the well for their water. The stone cover and trough 

 were placed at the expense of Colonel Needham. 



The elm overshadowing the pump, also, has a history which 

 is worth saving. It was set out many years ago by Curtis 

 Shepley. who is still remembered by some of the older people 

 of the town. In November, 1844, a large building was moved 

 from Hollis Street to the corner of Main and Court Streets, 

 and became known as Liberty Hall. During the removal 

 this structure remained one night over the small tree, pressing 

 it to the ground. On the next day, after the building had 

 passed along, the elm righted itself and has stood there ever 

 since, though it still has a marked inclination or list to the 

 westward, as the direct result of the harsh treatment it re- 

 ceived more than sixty-five years ago. Hollis Street, where 

 it branches off from Main Street at this point, according to 

 the North Star, runs very nearly north and south. 



The use of the public well was superseded by the introduc- 

 tion of water on the part of the Groton Water Company, 

 incorporated by the Legislature on May 5, 1897. Colonel 

 Needham died on February 20, 1895. 



