1897 Map of Becket

About this map

The Housatonic River and the Boston and Albany Railroad dictate the industrial and social geometry of these Berkshire hills at the turn of the century. While Pittsfield anchors the northwest corner, the survey reveals a landscape of high-elevation farming and early manufacturing pockets. Small rail-side nodes like Washington Station and Lenox Furnace contrast with the older, upland community centers of Becket Center and Peru Hill. The map meticulously details the region’s water management, showing the West Branch of Westfield River and numerous reservoirs like Plunkett Reservoir and Ashley Lake, which supported the downstream mills. This 1880s topography preserves the exact placement of local landmarks before 20th-century road realignments changed the character of towns like Hinsdale and Middlefield.