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1946 Map of Barre

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Barre
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

The Ware River and Burnshirt River carve through this central Massachusetts landscape, defining the industrial and social development of the mid-1940s. While Barre serves as the primary hub, the map reveals a series of specialized river-dependent settlements like South Barre, White Valley, and Coldbrook Springs. These communities are tightly integrated with the Boston and Albany and Boston and Maine rail lines, which follow the narrow valley floors to support local manufacturing and commerce.

Genealogists will find a high density of rural burial grounds, including the Williams Cem, Lincoln Cem, and the uniquely named District No 9 Cem. The terrain is marked by significant elevations such as Mt Pleasant and the Burnshirt Hills, with large tracts of preserved land at the Hubbardston State Forest and Barre State Forest. The presence of the Fairgrounds near the town center indicates its role as a regional gathering point for the surrounding agricultural districts.