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1942 Map of Ware

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Ware
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

The Quabbin Reservoir dominates the center of this landscape, reflecting a massive transformation of the Swift River Valley as it appeared in the early 1940s. While many towns were submerged to create the reservoir, surrounding settlements like Ware Center and Belchertown remained vital hubs. This map reveals a complex industrial and institutional geography, featuring the Bald Peak Hospital and the industrial activity near Three Rivers, where several rail lines converge.

Transportation networks including the Boston & Albany RR and the Central Vermont Ry illustrate the region's connectivity before the modern interstate era. Pockets of preserved land like the Brimfeld State Forest and Monson State Forest contrast with localized industry, such as the Lead Mine near Lead Mine Pd Cem. From the small neighborhood of Sixteen Acres to the aviation fields at Metropolitan Airport, the map details a region balancing natural resources with growing infrastructure.