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1942 Map of Woronoco

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Woronoco
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

The Westfield River carves a deep valley through this part of the Berkshires, dictating the development of industrial hamlets and transport corridors. At Woronoco and Crescent Mills, the river’s power supported local industry while the Boston and Albany Railroad provided the vital connection to larger markets. This geography creates a sharp contrast between the densely settled river bottom and the upland plateaus, where scattered communities like Montgomery and Wyben remain centered around rural institutions like the Montgomery Ch and Wyben Chapel.

Resource extraction and municipal infrastructure appear across the higher elevations, from the Marble Quarries on Russell Mtn to the Westfield Reservoir on Ball Mtn. Genealogists may find interest in the precise locations of the Russell Street Sch and the remote Clarks Cem. The map also documents the transition to early motor travel, noting the General Knox Road and an Airway Beacon used for aerial navigation.