Shaker Village – Spring House and Aqueduct

In 1855 a severe drought created hardship within the Harvard Shaker Community due to failed wells.  On the west side of Oak Hill was a reliable source of water in the form of a perennial spring.

The Shaker spring house was built to protect the natural spring that emerged from the hillside near the community’s East Family complex, which was removed during the construction of Route 2. The building sheltered the spring from contamination, and provided a reliable source of clean water for food preparation, dairy use, and domestic needs before modern plumbing systems existed.

The structure itself was constructed of heavy local stone masonry built directly into the slope of the hill. Its partially earth-sheltered design helped maintain a stable interior temperature while also protecting the spring chamber from freezing in winter.

Water from the spring was carried through an underground aqueduct that extended roughly one mile to a reservoir located on the hill above the Church Family settlement just northeast of the Square House. From that reservoir, fresh water was distributed throughout the Church Family buildings through a sophisticated pipe system that included underground valves that led to several of the Church Family buildings.

The spring water was later recognized for its exceptional purity, making it especially valued by the community.