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1965 Map of Shirley

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Shirley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Nashua River and Squannacook River define the eastern reach of this landscape, where the Boston and Maine railroad tracks weave through the valley to serve the town of Shirley. To the south, the sprawling Fort Devens Military Reservation occupies a significant portion of the terrain, neighbored by the State Industrial Sch for Boys and the Lancaster State Forest. These institutional and military footprints contrast with the suburban expansion visible in Leominster and Lunenburg, where residential clusters and gravel pits suggest mid-century growth.

Water and recreation are central to the area's character, anchored by Hickory Hills Lake, Lake Whalom, and Shirley Lake. Near Whalom, an Amusement Park and Monoosnock Country Club point to the region's role as a local destination for leisure. Genealogists will find several burial grounds, including St Anthonys Cemetery and Village Cem, while the presence of the Shirley Airport and numerous schools like the North Shirley Sch provide a detailed look at the civic infrastructure of central Massachusetts during this era.