Somerville’s ‘Urban Archaeology’: Buried City Vehicles Emerge from Melting Snow Farm
Residents of Somerville, Massachusetts, recently witnessed a bizarre sight on Washington Street as a massive snow pile began to shrink, revealing a fleet of crushed and battered vehicles. What initially looked like a strange discovery for Reddit users and local neighbors turned out to be a calculated move by the city’s public works department during a brutal winter.
The ‘Snow Farm’ Phenomenon
The scene unfolded at a city snow farm located at 90 Washington Street, near the East Somerville Green Line station. As temperatures rose in April 2026, the melting ice revealed at least one Ford Escape and other city vehicles that had been intentionally entombed under a mountain of dirty snow.
According to the Somerville Department of Public Works, the city buried six inoperable vehicles awaiting disposal. The decision was made during a series of major snowstorms in late January and late February, which dropped more than five feet of snow across the Boston area. Rather than diverting scarce tow trucks and storm resources to move the junked cars, city crews simply pushed the snow over them to keep emergency access and streets open.
The Science of the Slow Melt
Many locals wondered why the snow pile persisted so long into the spring. WBZ Weather Executive Producer Terry Eliasen explained that massive snow piles create a “cold dome” effect, where the top layer of snow insulates the mass beneath, requiring significant heat energy to melt.
But, the composition of this specific pile accelerated the process. While white snow reflects sunlight and melts slower, the “dirty” snow in the junk lot—covered in filth and debris—absorbed more sunlight, causing the densely packed ice to melt faster than a pristine snowbank would.
What Happens Next for the Site?
The emergence of the vehicles coincides with the city’s plans to transition the land. The nearly four-acre parcel has been controlled by the Somerville Redevelopment Authority. The City of Somerville announced that redevelopment proposals for the site will be posted for public review on April 17, with a Civic Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for April 22 to discuss the future of the property.
- Intentional Burial: Six inoperable city vehicles were buried on purpose to prioritize street clearing during winter storms.
- Location: The incident occurred at the city snow farm at 90 Washington Street in Somerville, MA.
- Weather Impact: The region experienced one of its snowiest winters in a decade, leading to massive, lingering snow farms.
- Future Plans: The site is currently being pushed toward private redevelopment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were the cars stolen or missing?
No. City officials clarified that these were not missing vehicles or a “mystery-chop-shop situation,” but rather fleet castoffs that were already out of service and awaiting disposal.
Why didn’t the city just move the cars?
The Somerville DPW stated that during back-to-back major storms, they did not want to divert critical storm resources away from clearing roads and maintaining emergency access.
When will the snow be completely gone?
While the dark debris in the snow helps it melt faster, these massive piles can sometimes last into June or July depending on the heat energy available to break through the “cold dome.”
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