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1894 Map of Winchendon

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Winchendon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1910
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1910

About this map

The Miller River valley serves as the industrial and logistical spine for this late 19th-century New England landscape, where the Fitchburg Railroad and the Cheshire Railroad converge at Winchendon. This confluence of rail lines supported a dense network of villages, including Waterville, Hydeville, and Bullardville, all situated along the river's path. Further downstream, the river passes through South Royalston and Athol, while its tributaries, such as the Tully River, define the agricultural and timbered upland areas near Tully Mtn. and Little Tully Mtn.

To the south, the Boston and Albany Railroad Ware River Branch connects Baldwinville and Templeton, following the Burnshirt River into the hills. The map reveals a highly structured settlement pattern, where small centers like Phillipston and East Templeton are surrounded by family-named landmarks such as Norcross Hill and Dolbier Hill. This survey captures the height of the region's rail-and-river economy, showing the numerous ponds, like Monomonac Pond, and reservoirs that powered local industry.