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1944 Map of Winsor Dam

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Winsor Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

The Quabbin Reservoir dominates this 1940s landscape, illustrating the massive scale of the water project that fundamentally altered the geography of central Massachusetts. Surveyed just after the reservoir was filled, the map shows the prominent Prescott Peninsula extending into the water, once home to towns since submerged. Essential infrastructure of the system is clearly marked, including the primary Winsor Dam and the adjacent Quabbin Dike.

South of the reservoir, the terrain transitions into the settled valleys of West Ware and Ware Center. Local history is preserved through named peaks like Quabbin Hill and Mt Lizzie, alongside the relocated Quabbin Park Cem. The drainage patterns of the Swift River and Beaver Brook are shown in relation to the dam, providing a detailed record of the modified environment and the local road network, including Newton Road and Mill Valley Road, as they existed during the early years of the reservoir's operation.