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1945 Map of Franklin

Name: 1945 Topographic Map of Franklin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The New York New Haven and Hartford RR forms a critical transportation spine through this mid-century New England landscape, anchoring the bustling town center of Franklin. The map illustrates a transitional period of development, where established academic institutions like Dean Academy and local landmarks such as the Woonsocket Airport sit alongside smaller village settlements like Unionville, Wadsworth, and Sheldonville.

Genealogists and local historians can find significant landmarks across the Norfolk and Providence county line, including the Ballow Meetinghouse and several parish burial grounds like St Marys Cem and Rakeville Cem. The terrain is characterized by a network of brooks and ponds, from Beaver Pond to the Pawtucket Reservoir, supporting a mix of residential growth and early industrial features like the Sewage Disposal plant and various gravel pits. The presence of Mt St Rita Convent and the Winnesuket Golf Club reflects the diverse social and religious fabric of the area as it stood at the end of World War II.