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1944 Map of Essex

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Essex
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Ivoryton and Centerbrook anchor the inland reaches of this mid-century survey, while the maritime character of the Connecticut River dominates the eastern edge. The shoreline is a dense sequence of summer colonies and landings, including Quotonset Beach and Chalker Beach, reflecting the region's development as a coastal retreat. Further inland, the landscape is defined by its water-powered past, evidenced by numerous mill ponds such as Chalkers Mill Pond and Messerschmidt Pond along the many brooks feeding into Westbrook Harbor.

The New York New Haven And Hartford railroad cuts across the southern portion of the quadrangle, serving the Saybrook Sta and linking these coastal villages. Cultural landmarks like Incarnation Camp and the Essex Airport appear alongside older genealogical foundations, including Winthrop Cem and Cypress Cem. From the elevations of Bushy Hill to the marshes of Great Meadow, the map captures a period of transition between traditional industry and the growing leisure economy of the Sound.