1944 Map of Lawrence

About this map

The Merrimack River serves as the industrial and geographic anchor of this mid-century survey, flanked by the dense urban grids of Lawrence and Methuen. In the years following the mobilization of the early 1940s, the landscape shows a complex integration of textiles and transport, with the Boston and Maine RR and the Merrimack Turnpike providing essential connections. While the riverfront is defined by mills and civic institutions like the Court House and General Hospital, the surrounding hills are dotted with a remarkable concentration of ethnic and religious burial grounds, including the Lithuanian Cem, Polish Cem, and Sts Peter & Paul Cem. South of the river, Shawsheen Village and Andover present a more planned residential character, featuring prominent educational landmarks such as Abbot Academy and the Punchard High Sch. From the Lawrence Municipal Airport in the east to the Town Farm in the west, this map captures the region's height as a manufacturing powerhouse.