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1898 Map of Greylock

Name: 1898 Topographic Map of Greylock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1920
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1920

About this map

Mt. Greylock dominates the terrain of northern Berkshire County, standing as the focal point of a landscape defined by sharp industrial corridors and steep mountain ranges. At the turn of the century, the Hoosic River valley served as a vital artery for manufacturing and transit, with the Fitchburg R.R. and Boston and Albany RR connecting established mill towns. These rail lines supported a string of settlements including Blackinton, Braytonville, and the specialized industrial site of Zylonite.

Further south, the valley narrows near Adams and Cheshire, where the Pittsfield and North Adams Electric RR provided local transit between smaller hubs like Maple Grove and Arnoldsville. To the east, the engineering feat of the Hoosac Tunnel cuts through the Florida mountains, while the western reaches include the dramatic glacial cirque known as The Hopper. This 1885 survey, reprinted in 1920, captures the peak of the region's rail-and-water-power economy before mid-century shifts transformed the industrial base.