Loading map...

1939 Map of Shirley

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Shirley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

The Middlesex and Worcester County line bisects this 1951 reprint of a mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by industrial development and glacial water bodies. The Boston and Maine Railroad serves as a primary corridor, passing through Shirley, while the Nashua River and Squannacook River frame the eastern terrain. Significant institutional and community landmarks are present, including the Industrial School south of town and educational sites like White Sch.

Settlement patterns show a mix of established village centers like Shirley Center and smaller hamlets such as Goodrichville and North Shirley. The western portion of the map is dominated by the hills of Lunenburg, while the central region is characterized by extensive wetlands and water bodies, including Shirley Reservoir, Massapoag Pond, and the wide Tophet Swamp. For genealogists, the map preserves the exact locations of St Cecelia Cemetery and St Leo Cem near the Leominster border.