1948 Map of Blackstone

About this map

The Blackstone River valley in the late 1940s is defined by a dense network of industrial settlements and rural hilltop communities spanning the Massachusetts and Rhode Island border. Heavy rail traffic from the New York New Haven and Hartford railroad connects the bustling manufacturing centers of Woonsocket and Blackstone to the surrounding hills. This survey records a landscape in transition, where early aviation landmarks like the Mendon Landing Field and an Airway Beacon sit near 18th-century heritage sites like the Chestnut Hill Meeting House. From the textile villages of Wheelockville and Waterford to the numerous cemeteries such as Precious Blood Cem and St Michael Ukrainian Cem, the map documents the diverse immigrant and labor history of the region. Notable water features like Nipmuck Pond and Ironstone Reservoir highlight the area's long-standing reliance on river-powered industry.