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1958 Map of Becket

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Becket
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Becket and the surrounding Berkshire highlands are defined by a network of seasonal camps and recreational waters at the midpoint of the twentieth century. The landscape is dotted with established institutions like Camp Greylock, Camp Becket, and Chimney Corners Camp, situated near the shores of Center Pond and Rudd Pond. These camps, alongside the St Lawrence Novitiate, reflect the region's mid-century transition from a strictly agricultural economy to one centered on religious retreats and summer youth recreation.

Transport through these hills is anchored by the Penn Central railroad, which follows the winding course of the West Branch Westfield River through Bancroft and Middlefield Station. To the west, the massive acreage of the October Mountain State Forest borders the town of Washington, where the Washington Church and a local cemetery mark the historic community center. Notable family-named roads like Leland Road and Wade Inn Road provide a granular look at the early road network connecting remote farmsteads to the larger settlements.