 Prior to its residential development, Belvidere Hill was farmland.In 1849, the Proprietors of Locks and Canals purchased land at the top of what was then called Lynde's Hill, and built a reservoir in order to provide water pressure to the city's industries when the power canals were drained for maintenance.Fairmount Road, built to facilitate construction of the reservoir, also became a spur to the hill's residential development.