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1939 Map of Worcester North

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Worcester North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

Worcester's northern reaches and the surrounding townships of Holden and West Boylston are captured here just before the Second World War. The landscape is defined by the massive footprint of the Wachusett Reservoir to the northeast and the industrial and academic density of the city to the south. This era shows a community heavily invested in public health and education, evidenced by the numerous specialized institutions like the Worcester Co Tuberculosis Hospital, Belmont Hospital, and the sprawling City Farm.

Academic life is central to the area's identity, with Assumption College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the State Teachers College all established within the urban grid. Transport is dominated by the Boston and Maine railroad lines, which connect industrial hubs like Greendale and Chaffinville to the wider New England network. From the heights of Indian Hill to the shores of Lake Quinsigamond, the map reveals a complex transition from dense city blocks to the reservoir-adjacent villages of Morningdale and Summit.