Ebenezer Warren Reed, in addition to several official positions with the town, was a watering-cart contractor with Brookline who sprinkled the dirt streets to reduce dust and preserve the covering over the stone underlayment. Across Boylston St. was the feeder station hydrant used to fill the wagon.

[Courtesy of the Digital Commonwealth (CC BY-NC-ND). From the Brookline Photograph Collection published by the Public Library of Brookline]