1893 Map of Becket

About this map

The Housatonic River and the West Branch of Westfield River define the industrial and transport corridors of the Berkshires in the late nineteenth century. This topography reveals a landscape shaped by high-elevation water management, featuring Ashley Lake, Ashmere Lake, and Plunkett Reservoir, which supported the mills and communities in the valleys below. The Boston and Albany Railroad winds through the difficult terrain of the eastern hills, connecting rail stops like Washington Station and Bancroft Station. To the west, the Housatonic Railroad serves the manufacturing hub of Pittsfield and the industrial activity at Lenox Furnace. The map documents the distribution of small villages such as Becket Center and Peru before modern highway development bypassed these mountain settlements.