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1939 Map of Springfield South

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

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

The Connecticut River dominates this pre-war landscape, serving as the central axis for the industrial and residential growth of Springfield and its neighboring communities. This 1939 edition highlights a complex urban infrastructure defined by major rail lines like the Boston and Albany RR and the Boston and Maine RR, which converge at Union Sta. The industrial character of the era is anchored by the prominent U S Armory and the expansive Watershops Pond, while the cultural and social life of the city is represented by Springfield College and the Exposition Grounds across the river.

Further south, the landscape transitions from the dense grid of Springfield into the more residential and open spaces of Longmeadow and East Longmeadow. Significant recreational areas such as Forest Park and the Franconia Golf Course appear alongside local landmarks like the House of the Good Shepherd. The map also meticulously records several burial grounds, including Oak Grove Cemetery and St Michaels Cemetery, providing valuable data for genealogists tracing family histories in the Pioneer Valley.