1892 Map of Webster

About this map

Lake Chaubunagungamaug dominates the southeastern terrain of this Central Massachusetts landscape, its intricate shoreline and islands situated just north of the Boundary Line between Massachusetts and Connecticut. The industrial development of the late 19th century is evident in the dense network of rail lines and mill towns concentrated along the French River and Quinebaug River. Major transportation corridors, including the Boston and Albany R.R. and the Norwich and Worcester R.R., link established manufacturing hubs like Webster, Millbury, and Oxford. This survey reveals a transition from the agricultural uplands of Charlton and Dudley to the burgeoning factory villages like Manchaug and Bramanville. Small hamlets and family-named landmarks like Larnedville, Buffumville, and Mugget Hill populate the spaces between these rail-connected centers, providing a detailed view of the region's economy before the arrival of the modern interstate system.