Loading map...

1969 Map of Grafton

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Grafton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Blackstone River corridor defines the industrial and social development of this Worcester County region as seen in the late 1960s and 1970s. Industrial hamlets like Fisherville, Farnumsville, and Saundersville follow the river's bend, while the older village of Grafton sits on higher ground to the north. The landscape reflects a mix of institutional use and early suburbanization, notably featuring the sprawling Grafton State Hospital grounds and the expanding Mass Turnpike corridor.

Genealogists and local historians can locate numerous burial grounds, including the Indian Cem and Grafton Center Cem, as well as older transport nodes like Millbury Junction. The presence of the Providence and Worcester railroad alongside the river illustrates the historical reliance on rail for the local textile and manufacturing economy. To the south, the terrain becomes more wooded, containing the geological landmarks of Purgatory Chasm State Park and Sutton State Forest.