1886 Map of Blackstone

About this map

Industrial villages and mill ponds define this landscape along the Blackstone River and Mumford River corridors. The late 19th-century geography is dominated by textile manufacturing centers such as Whitinsville, Fisherville, and Farnumsville, where the water power of the valley was harnessed for large-scale production. The map captures the intricate rail network of the New York New Haven And Hartford R. R. and the Boston And Albany R. R., which facilitated the movement of goods and people between the bustling hubs of Uxbridge, Milford, and Millville. Outside the industrial valleys, the terrain rises into prominent landmarks like Purgatory Chasm and several family-named peaks including Keith Hill and George Hill. To the south, the Southern New England R. R. Location indicates planned transit routes near the Rhode Island border, while the northern reaches show the early development of Hopkinton and the waters of Whitehall Pond.