Map of 1794
By: Cristina G., Liz G.,
Abby M.
What did Ludlow look like in 1794?
Is there anything on the map of 1794 that we would recognize today?
In our group we examined a Ludlow map from June 26, 1794. This is the first map of the town of Ludlow, and the original map is kept in the State House in Boston. On this map, it shows the Chicopee River that borders Ludlow and Springfield. In the southwest corner Wallamanumps is found by the Chicopee River. Wallamanumps was the Indian name for the falls at the Chicopee River. The Meeting House is shown in the middle. From Boston to the Meeting House it is 90 miles traveling on a “Country Road.” From the Meeting House to Northampton, it is 15 miles, also traveling on a “Country Road” or “Highway.” There are two hills located to the east of the Meeting House and they are Minachoak (Minnechaug) and High Hills. There are two brooks, named Higher Brook and Stony Brook. Also, there is a bridge from Ludlow to Springfield crossing the Chicopee River that is called “Toll Bridge.” That means people had to pay to pass by. People have been building the bridges from Springfield to Ludlow in the same spot for over 200 years. On the bottom of the map it says, “A plan of the town of Ludlow then from an actual survey made this June 26th, 1794 and protracted by a scale of 200 rod to an inch made this 20th day of May 1795 in which then 200 acres of ponds and swamps.” This map was made and signed by Israel Chapin, “Surveyor.”
We learned that there were few roads in 1794, which probably means they were dirt roads and it made travel difficult. The map shows one building in the center of town, the Meeting House, so we believe that it was an important building where they discussed government and practiced religion. From this map, we think that there were few people in the town of Ludlow in 1794. Most people in Ludlow at this time were probably farming. Even though there were few people, the bridge and the Country Roads tell us that travel was important. The bridge over the Chicopee River and the Meeting House can still be seen today.