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1946 Map of Petersham

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

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

Petersham serves as the central hub of this mid-1940s landscape, situated among a network of hills and water bodies just east of the expansive Quabbin Reservoir. The map illustrates a rural Massachusetts topography defined by significant elevation changes, from Bald Hill and Camels Hump Hill in the north to Potapaug Hill overlooking the reservoir's eastern shore. A complex system of swamps and brooks, including Higgins Swamp and Fever Brook, drains through the undulating terrain toward the Swift River basin.

Smaller settlements such as Nichewaug and Bassets Corner are connected to the town center by winding routes like Hardwick Road and Old Stage Road. This survey documents the area's transition into a protected watershed region, with several ponds like Carter Pond and Connor Pond dotting the landscape. The intricate network of local streets, including East Street and Oliver Street, provides a clear view of the residential and agricultural layout of Petersham and northern Hardwick during the post-war era.