1958 Map of Mount Tom

About this map

Mount Tom Range dominates this mid-century landscape, a prominent ridge separating the urbanized corridor of the Connecticut River from the agricultural and suburbanizing reaches of Southampton and Westfield. The map reveals the post-war industrial and transportation infrastructure of Western Massachusetts, notably featuring the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Barnes Municipal Airport. The eastern side of the ridge shows the dense neighborhood development of Holyoke and West Springfield, where residential areas like Oakdale and Elmwood are packed with schools and churches, including the Dominican Monastery and Blessed Sacrament Sch. Significant water resources are managed across the terrain, from the Whiting Street Reservoir perched on the mountain's shoulder to the Ashley Pond system. Local industry is marked by several Sand and Gravel Pits and the proximity of the New York Central Railroad, reflecting a period of active regional growth.