Loading map...

1954 Map of Athol

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Athol
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Millers River corridor serves as the industrial and civic anchor for this mid-century portrait of Worcester County, where the growing hub of Athol transitions into the managed woodlands of the Harvard Forest. The river's path is closely shadowed by the Boston and Maine Railroad, illustrating the vital rail-to-river connection that fueled local enterprise, including the Phillipston Mill. Beyond the urban density of East Athol, the landscape is defined by an intricate network of water management, featuring the Bates Power Reservoir and Thousand Acre Reservoir.

Genealogists will find significant value in the distribution of family and community burial grounds, from the large Silver Lake Cem to the more secluded Doe Valley Cem and New Sherborn Cem. The map also captures specialized institutional landmarks like the Administration Bldg Harvard Forest and the St Francis Xavier Mission, reflecting the area's dual character as a center for both forestry research and diverse community life in the postwar era.