The Second Turn, 1780-1820
Lesson 8: Changes in Deerfield, Massachusetts Shown in Maps

Activity 1
A. Analyzing a Historical Manuscript

1. Distribute individual topographical maps of Deerfield from the U.S. Geological Survey to each student (or have students retrieve them from their folders). This may also be done online by having students go to Lesson 8 to use this link.
2. Instruct students to identify the points of the compass on the map. Then have them identify the highest and lowest points in Deerfield, the Connecticut River, Deerfield River, the location of the town of Old Deerfield, and present-day bridges (note: this is a review from Lesson 1).
3. Distribute individual copies of the 1794 Hoyt map, or have students go to Lesson 8 and use the map online.
4. Instruct students to determine the points of the compass on this map, using the topographical map as a guide.
5. Ask students to note places they became familiar with in previous lessons and places that show up for the first time on the Hoyt map. What stayed the same and what changed over the years? Instruct students to make a list in their student notebooks of these places and any new symbols or names they find on the Hoyt map. Guiding questions might be: Have the riverbeds changed? Why do you think Hoyt made the mountains that big? Note the names of the ferries. Why do you think there is no detail on the east side of the Connecticut River?
6. Discuss differences students found, and have the class add them to their lists in their notebooks.

Homework Assignment

1. Distribute copies of 1831 Arthur Hoyt map to each student, or have students go to Lesson 8 and use the map online.

2. Ask students to use the 1794 map and the topographical map to orient themselves as they examine the 1831 map.

3. Instruct students to compare and contrast the two maps, noting the different scales, the part of the town pictured, and the places mentioned on the 1831 map that were not on the 1794 map. Students should take notes on this in their notebooks.

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U.S. Geological Survey map of Greenfield

1794 David Hoyt Map

social studies notebooks

1831 Arthur Hoyt map

Activity 2
B. Comparing the Two Maps

1. Hold a discussion comparing and contrasting the two maps and analyzing the growth of the town between 1794 and 1831. Instruct students to use their homework as a basis for the discussion and make a list of changes on chalkboard or chart paper.

Guiding questions:

• What do you find on the 1831 map that was not illustrated on the 1794 map?
• Arthur Hoyt left out some buildings on Albany road on his map. Why might he have done this?
• Note the change in the course of the river. Discuss how this may have come about.
• What are the problems in comparing these hand-drawn maps to modern maps? What can be gained from them?
• Compare the information contained in a topographical map vs. a modern roadmap vs. a historical hand-drawn map.

2. After the discussion, compose a class paragraph about the growth of the town from 1794 -1830, based on the discussion. Have students copy the paragraph into their student notebooks.

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student notebooks