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1955 Map of Plainfield

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Plainfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The town of Plainfield and the village of West Hawley sit at the heart of this high-elevation terrain, where the Berkshire and Franklin county lines meet. The landscape is defined by its deep forest cover and mountain peaks, with large portions preserved within the Hawley State Forest, Savoy State Forest, and Windsor State Forest. Settled areas are concentrated along winding roads such as Windsor Road and Pudding Hollow Road, where smaller landmarks like School No 7 and the Ingraham Cem mark the legacy of rural education and early family settlements.

Water plays a critical role in the geography of the region, from the Chickley River in the north to the Westfield River in the south. Several high-altitude water bodies, including Hallockville Pond, Plainfield Pond, and Crooked Pond, are nestled between ridges like Warner Hill and West Mtn. This 1955 revision shows a landscape of small, isolated hamlets like Brier and South Hawley, connected by a network of improved and unimproved ways that reflect the area's transition into a center for conservation and outdoor recreation.