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1893 Map of Putnam

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Putnam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1928
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1928

About this map

The Quinebaug River forms the industrial backbone of this northeastern Connecticut landscape, where the Norwich and Worcester Railroad and the New York and New England Railroad converge. These rail lines supported a dense network of nineteenth-century mill villages and settlements like North Grosvenor Dale, Mechanicsville, and Attawaugan. In the east, the border with Rhode Island is marked by water and high ground, including Killingly Pond and Jerimoth Hill.

The terrain is defined by its water management for industry, visible in the numerous reservoirs like Quaddick Reservoir and Bowdish Reservoir. Local life centered around family-named landmarks and hubs such as Pomfret Station and Killingly Center. Smaller watercourses, including Five Mile River and Whetstone Brook, cut through the hills to join the primary river valley, illustrating the era's reliance on both rail transport and water power for regional growth.