1941 Map of Pocasset

About this map

Camp Edwards and Otis Field dominate the southeastern landscape of this coastal survey, reflecting the rapid military expansion occurring just as the United States entered World War II. The map captures a transitional moment for the Upper Cape, where the established rail lines of the New York New Haven and Hartford railroad serve historic coastal villages like Pocasset and Cataumet. Northward, the Cape Cod Canal cuts through the terrain near Bourne Neck and the State Pier at Gray Gables. The interior is characterized by the dense woodlands of the Shawme State Forest and a complex network of glacial kettle ponds, including Snake Pond and Flax Pond. Significant local landmarks such as the County Sanatorium and family-named sites like Bear Hollow Farm provide specific points of interest for those studying the social and institutional history of Barnstable County during the early 1940s.