1943 Map of East Springfield

About this map

Springfield and the surrounding hamlets of northern Otsego County are defined by a landscape of prominent drumlins and deep valleys during the mid-1940s. The settlement pattern follows the early turnpikes and rural crossroads, where clusters like Middle Village and Springfield Center provided local commerce and services. To the east, the historic village of Cherry Valley sits at the head of Cherry Valley Creek, while the dramatic Dugway Gorge cuts through the terrain near Salt Springville. This era captures the rural social infrastructure of the region before significant consolidation, preserving the locations of numerous family and community landmarks such as Willse Hill Cem, Oliver Cem, and the Continental Sch. The map also illustrates the northern reach of Otsego Lake at Hyde Bay, a critical geographic anchor for the region's early development and tourism.