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1938 Map of Mt. Tom

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Mt. Tom
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

Mt Tom State Reservation and the rising peaks of the Mt Tom Range dominate this landscape, anchoring a complex network of reservoirs and ponds during the late 1930s. The terrain transitions from the steep ridges of Mount Tom and Cedar Knob into a valley marked by significant water management and early aviation infrastructure. Notable is Barnes Landing Field in Westfield, situated near St Marys Cemetery, highlighting the convergence of modern transport and established community landmarks.

Settlement patterns follow the corridor of the Connecticut River, with industrial and residential clusters like Brightside and Ingleside positioned along the Boston and Maine RR. The map captures a high density of civic and religious institutions, including the Orphans Home and a Monastery in West Springfield, while recreational sites like Mountain Park and the Country Club suggest the era's evolving land use between the growing urban centers of Holyoke and its neighboring towns.