1938 Map of Niantic

About this map

The Niantic River and its expansive bay define this coastal landscape on the eve of the 1940s, separating the townships of East Lyme and Waterford. This era shows a transition from traditional maritime and granite-quarrying industries toward a recreation-focused shoreline. Along the western coast, Rocky Neck State Park and Attawan Beach signal the growing importance of the summer season, while the New York New Haven and Hartford railroad tracks parallel the coast, connecting the village of Niantic to regional trade. Inland, the presence of the Farm For Women and the State Sanatorium reflect the state's institutional land use of the period. To the north, the cluster at Golden Spur and the Stone Church mark older centers of community life, even as the Boston Post Road begins to carry increasing motor traffic through the hills.