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1939 Map of Shirley

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

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

The boundary between Worcester and Middlesex counties serves as a central spine for this 1930s landscape, where the Nashua River and Squannacook River frame a region of active industry and institutional presence. Settlement is concentrated along the Boston and Maine Railroad, which connects the industrial hub of Leominster and its northern counterpart North Leominster to Shirley and West Groton. The map reveals a highly structured environment, featuring the Industrial School and a Rifle Range in the south, alongside established community centers like Shirley Center.

Hydrography plays a significant role in the local economy and topography, with numerous water bodies such as Shirley Reservoir, Whalom Pond, and Fort Pond dotting the map. This era shows a transition from rural crossroads like Goodrichville and Clarks to more developed residential corridors defined by roads like Old Turnpike Rd and Longley Road. For genealogists, the map provides precise locations for St Cecelia Cemetery, St Leo Cem, and Evergreen Cemetery.