1941 Map of Leicester

About this map

The hills of Worcester County are defined by a network of textile-era settlements and glacial ponds just before the mid-century. Leicester and Spencer anchor the northern landscape, while the industrial corridor of the French River connects Rochdale and North Oxford. This survey, compiled in part from aerial photography, captures the transition from old manufacturing centers to a more recreational and residential landscape, visible in the presence of the Mt Pleasant Golf Club and Hillcrest Country Club. Local history is deeply embedded in the land, from the Clara Barton Home near Oxford Heights to the numerous burial grounds like Bay Path Cem. The hydrography of the region is prominent, featuring the expansive Stiles Reservoir and smaller bodies like Burncoat Pond and Cedar Meadow Pond that once powered local industry. The Boston and Albany RR cuts through the western terrain, serving established towns like Charlton Depot and Charlton City.