1946 Map of New Britain

About this map

New Britain serves as the dense urban core of this mid-century survey, surrounded by the dramatic ridgelines of Talcott Mountain, Rattlesnake Mtn, and Bradley Mtn. The landscape is a complex mix of industrial-era infrastructure and institutional landmarks, including the State Teachers College and the Polish Orphanage St Lucien Home. Transportation networks are heavily defined by the New York New Haven and Hartford railroad and the College Highway, while the hydraulic needs of the growing city are met by significant works like the Shuttle Meadow Reservoir and Plainville Reservoir. Smaller settlements such as Kensington and Plainville punctuate the valleys, connected by a grid of streets including Shuttle Meadow Ave and Corbin Ave. Significant green spaces like Stanley Quarter Park and the rugged passage at Cooks Gap highlight the tension between the expanding urban footprint and the area's prominent geological features.