1975 Map of Royalston

About this map

Royalston and its surrounding hill-town settlements are captured in this mid-1970s orthophotograph, which uses aerial imagery to reveal the dense forest cover and hydrologic patterns of northern Worcester County. The landscape is defined by the flow of the East Branch Tully River southward into Tully Lake and the winding path of the Millers River near South Royalston. These waterways once powered the small-scale industries that sustained the villages of West Royalston and Tully. The map provides a unique visual record of land use before more modern development, showing the clearings for farms and homes against the stark dark shapes of Laurel Lake and Sportsman Pond. It is a vital resource for understanding the spatial relationship between the historic village centers and the rugged New England terrain that shaped their growth.