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1944 Map of Lawrence

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Lawrence
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Industrial and academic centers converge along the Merrimack River in this mid-century survey. The dense urban core of Lawrence is meticulously detailed, showing the County Jail, Court House, and the sprawling residential districts of South Lawrence and Mt Vernon Park. The map captures the significant concentration of Catholic institutions in the area, including St Marys Cem and St Annes Orphanage. To the south, the academic landscape of Andover is anchored by Phillips Academy and Abbot Academy.

Transport and utility infrastructure of the era are prominent, from the Boston & Maine RR lines crisscrossing the landscape to the Pumping Sta and Filtration Plant near Haggetts Pond. The transition from the urban Spicket River valley to the more rural heights of Methuen is marked by numerous family-named hills like Daddy Frye Hill and Meetinghouse Hill, providing a clear view of the region's topography before post-war suburban expansion altered the local character.