1946 Map of Wrentham

About this map

The New York New Haven and Hartford railroad cuts a definitive line through the Norfolk and Bristol County borderlands, connecting established industrial and residential centers just after the war. This 1946 edition reveals a landscape deeply influenced by institutional architecture, notably the State Prison Colony and the nearby State Hospital, which served as major landmarks and employers for the region. The map captures the intersection of small-town life and state-level infrastructure, with community clusters like Wampum Corner and Shepardville existing alongside larger facilities like the Pondville Hospital. The terrain is defined by its extensive wetlands and water bodies, from the sprawling Cedar Swamp to the recreational waters of Lake Pearl, illustrating the complex hydrology that historically powered local mills at City Mills. This survey serves as a vital record of the area's mid-century development before the massive expansion of the modern interstate system.