1886 Map of Becket

About this map

Hinsdale and Washington anchor this late-19th-century study of the Berkshire Highlands, showing a landscape defined by industrial water management and early rail transport. The Boston and Albany railroad snakes through the central terrain, serving isolated outposts like Washington Station P.O. and the industrial hub at Lenox Furnace. Numerous reservoirs and ponds, including Plunkett Reservoir, Ashmere Lake, and Ashley Lake, illustrate the region's reliance on controlled water for downstream industry. To the east, the rural settlements of Peru and Middlefield sit among high points like French Hill and Crane Hill, while the West Branch of Westfield River cuts through the southeastern corner near Bancroft. This topographic view captures the era when the hill towns were primary nodes of commerce and local manufacture before the shift toward modern regional centers.