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1921 Map of Franklin

Name: 1921 Topographic Map of Franklin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

Medfield Junc and Walpole Junction serve as the primary rail hubs for this early 20th-century landscape where industrial villages are spaced along the river systems. The Charles River winds through the center of the sheet, powering settlements like City Mills and Rockville. Significant water management for local industry and municipal needs is evident in the numerous impoundments such as Jenks Reservoir, Reservoir No. 4, and the Shepardville Reservoir.

Genealogists and local historians can trace the transition from rural farming to industrial centers in places like Unionville, Braggville, and Metcalf. The terrain is characterized by numerous named high points such as Noon Hill and Knickup Hill, which helped dictate the path of early roads and rail lines. Along the southern border, the Massachusetts Rhode Island boundary line separates the industrial clusters of North Attleboro from the neighboring townships.