(Host) A hilltop reservoir in Brattleboro dating back to the late 1800s has been listed as a high hazard by state engineers.

The reservoir has been unused for more than thirty years - but not unloved, especially in the neighborhood that surrounds it.

VPR's Susan Keese has the story.

(frogs at reservoir)

(Keese) The Chestnut Hill reservoir is almost hidden on a hill at the end of a narrow lane that juts up inconspicuously from a busy downtown street.

Built into ledge, sealed in concrete and circled by a sagging chain link fence, it looks like a remnant from a forgotten civilization. And in a way it is.

(Carhart) "This played a very major role in the development of Brattleboro."

(Keese) Brattleboro historian Wayne Carhart says the reservoir was developed after a devastating downtown fire in 1869. The blaze was too much for the town's steam pumpers and bucket brigades.

(Carhart) "As a result of that there was recognition of the need for some kind of water supply that would be pressurized."

(Keese) George Crowell's answer was a 5 million gallon reservoir perched high enough above the downtown to create that pressure.

Crowell, a publisher and civic-minded visionary, developed Chestnut Hill Reservoir as the town's first public water supply. Carhart says Crowell also built a park around the reservoir.

(Carhart) "And it had gazebos and carriage paths and it was open for use of the townspeople. There could be no shooting of squirrels, I think the brochure said."

(Keese) The park was subdivided into house lots in the 1920s. Many of the people who live there now say they chose their property because of the water, and the wildlife it attracts.

But the reservoir was disconnected from the Brattleboro water supply in 1972. And state engineers who still inspect it regularly, say that it could fail.

(Barrett) "It's a high hazard dam. There are people that live downstream of it. If there was a problem with it, it would cause damage."

(Keese) Steve Barrett is Brattleboro's Director of Public Works.  He says that from his standpoint, it makes sense to get rid of the reservoir.

But Barrett was pretty sure the neighbors would have their own ideas. He and other town officials got an earful of those at a meeting held at the dam on a recent summer evening.

(Bring up frog sounds)

(Woman) "I've lived over on Cedar Street for 38 years, I've loved coming up here. I would hate to lose this."

 (Woman) "It's a historical area."

(Man) "It's a thing of beauty as far as I'm concerned."

(Woman) "You can hear the frogs sing from spring on when you come up here at night."

(Keese) There were also some voices of concern. David Eagle was one of those.

(Eagle) "I live downstream of it, and my house has had water issues that may or may not be attributed to this reservoir."

(Keese) The town of Brattleboro has set aside money for an engineering study to figure out what the choices are. Matt Murawski of the engineering firm Dubois and King was also at the meeting.

(Murawski) "Clearly a lot of people have a great love for this site. At the same time there are folks who live downstream who are generally concerned about the risk of rushing water coming suddenly through their house."

(Keese) Murawksi says something has to be done about the reservoir, because it is on the state's hazard list. He says he'll be back in August with a few proposals.

Town officials hope to have something to vote on by town meeting next spring.

For VPR News, I'm Susan Keese.