1946 Map of Ware

About this map

The Ware River carves a deep industrial and transit corridor through Worcester County, anchoring a string of mill settlements including Gilbertville, Wheelwright, and Furnace. Surveyed just before the mid-century, this map captures the tight relationship between the river's path and the rail infrastructure of the Boston and Albany and Boston and Maine lines. While these valley towns show concentrated development, the surrounding uplands of Hardwick and New Braintree remain defined by dispersed farmsteads and rural landmarks like Mandell Hill and School No 2. A notable engineering feature is the Quabbin Aqueduct passing beneath the terrain in the northwest, part of the massive regional water system. From the southern expanse of Wickaboag Pond to the heights of Dougal Mountain, the map documents a landscape of high-elevation drumlins and narrow, active valleys.