1959 Map of Peru

About this map

The town of Hinsdale and its neighbor Peru sit within a landscape of high-elevation water bodies and expansive public lands at the edge of the Berkshire and Hampshire county lines. This 1959 revision reflects a mid-century period of recreational development, evidenced by a cluster of summer retreats around Ashmere Lake, including Camp Taconic, Camp Danbee, and Camp Lenore. The East Branch Housatonic River flows through the western valley, shadowed by the New York New Haven and Hartford railroad line as it passes through the Hinsdale settlement. To the east, the terrain rises toward Peru Hill and French Hill, where conservation and public use dominate. Significant landmarks include the Dorothy Frances Rice Wildlife Refuge and the sprawling Peru State Forest, while local history is anchored by Hinsdale Cem, Peru Cem, and the North Cem.