1954 Map of Petersham

About this map

Petersham and its surrounding hill country are defined by the eastern reach of the Quabbin Reservoir, a landscape fundamentally altered by the creation of the reservoir system. The village center remains a focal point of commerce and education, anchored by the Maria Assumpta Academy, while the expansive Harvard Forest dominates the northern terrain. This mid-century survey reveals a transition from traditional upland farming and forestry to a conserved watershed environment, with numerous family and town burying grounds such as West Street Cem, Coolidge Cem, and Thresher Cem remaining as markers of early settlement patterns.