1958 Map of Essex

About this map

The Connecticut River marks the eastern boundary of this mid-century coastal landscape, where the tidal waters of North Cove and South Cove meet the historic seafaring village of Essex. Inland, the terrain is defined by a series of ponds and small millstreams, such as Birch Millpond and Chalkers Millpond, which once powered local industry. The settlement pattern shows the inland manufacturing influence of Ivoryton and Centerbrook contrasting with the growing recreational shoreline at Westbrook and Old Saybrook. Transportation networks are in transition, featuring the Penn Central railroad and the Connecticut Toll Road cutting across the coastal plain. Family and community roots are preserved at the Central Burying Ground and Riverview Cem, while the wooded uplands of the Cockaponset State Forest overlook the burgeoning residential developments of Saybrook Manor and Knollwood.