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1894 Map of Hawley

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Hawley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1913
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1913

About this map

The Deerfield River cuts a deep path through the highlands of western Massachusetts in this late 19th-century survey. The landscape is defined by the industrial and engineering feats of the era, most notably the Hoosac Tunnel and the Fitchburg Railroad which follow the river's winding course. Smaller rail spurs like the Hoosac Tunnel and Wilmington Railroad connect to isolated northern settlements like Monroe Bridge.

Beyond the river corridor, the map reveals a network of upland farming communities and post offices, including Spruce Corner, Buckland Four Corners, and South Hawley. The terrain is punctuated by significant summits such as Adams Mountain and Pocumtuck Mountain, while numerous brooks—like Clesson Brook and Pelham Brook—drain the surrounding hills. This survey records the region just as the railroad had fully integrated these once-isolated hill towns into the broader industrial economy.