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1949 Map of Belchertown

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Belchertown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Belchertown and its surrounding rural hamlets are centered in a landscape of rolling peaks and intricate water systems in mid-century Massachusetts. The region is defined by a cluster of lakes such as Arcadia Lake, Metacomet Lake, and Lake Holland, which are tied together by the rugged Metacomet Trail. Local infrastructure is anchored by the Central Vermont and Boston and Maine railroads, which facilitated movement through established stops like Dwight.

Genealogical interest is found in the numerous scattered burial grounds, including the Munsel Cem and Lake Vale Cem. Major institutional landmarks of the era are clearly marked, most notably the State School near the town center and St Hyacinths Seminary located to the southwest. The mapping of Lawrence Swamp and the headwaters of Jabish Brook reveals a community still heavily influenced by its natural hydrology and pre-interstate road network.