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1946 Map of Palmer

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Palmer
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

The industrial and transport core of central Massachusetts is defined here by the confluence of the Swift River, Ware River, and Quaboag River, which join near Three Rivers to form the Chicopee River. This 1946 document shows a landscape heavily shaped by rail, where the Boston and Albany RR, Central Vermont Ry, and Boston and Maine RR converge at the town of Palmer. Beyond the main settlement, several mill villages and local hubs like Bondsville, Thorndike, and Baptist Village appear as distinct clusters tied to the river valleys.

Institutional and infrastructure development is evident through the presence of the State Hospital and the State Hatchery near Forest Lake. The terrain is characterized by prominent peaks like Pattaquattic Hill and Mt Dumplin, which separate the river valleys from smaller outlying communities such as West Brimfield and Fentonville. For researchers, the map provides a clear picture of the pre-interstate era, with a dense network of local roads and an active Landing Field situated north of the main rail corridor.