1943 Map of Ashfield

About this map

The hills of western Massachusetts are carved by the Deerfield River and its numerous tributaries in this early 1940s landscape. Central to the map is Ashfield, a high-elevation village near the headwaters of the South River and the shores of Ashfield Pond. The terrain is characterized by family-named landmarks like Mary Lyon Hill and Orcutt Hill, reflecting a long history of upland farming and settlement. Along the northern edge, the Boston And Maine Railroad follows the river valley parallel to the famed Mohawk Trail, which served as a primary transportation artery through the Berkshires. Smaller clusters like Spruce Corner and Baptist Corner mark the intersections of rural roads, while isolated family burial grounds such as Leavitt Cem and Doane Cem provide valuable data for genealogists tracing the inhabitants of these Franklin County hill towns before modern development.