1895 Map of Chesterfield

About this map

Worthington Corners and Chester Center serve as central hubs in this late-19th-century study of the Hampshire County uplands. The landscape is defined by the steep valleys of the West Branch Westfield River and its numerous tributaries, including Bronson Brook and Wards Stream. The industrial footprint of the era is evident at Risbees Mill and the southern corridor of the Boston and Albany Railroad, which cuts through the southwestern corner near Chester. Smaller hamlets like Ringville, Ireland Street, and Dayville are connected by a network of local roads that navigate around significant elevations such as Bryant Mt. and Petticoat Hill. The concentration of settlements along these watercourses highlights a river-dependent economy prior to the extensive modernization of the 20th century.