BlockBefore
Decorative drawing: a small American settlement seen from a low hill. Not a photograph of this place.

Lee, Massachusetts

38 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1886 and the latest in 1997. It stands in Lee town. It lies in ZIP code area 01238. It stands on Goose Pond Brook. The Survey maps it on the East Lee quadrangle.

Lee within Berkshire County

Then and now

1886 to 1997

The same ground, surveyed 111 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.

Topographic sheet of Lee, surveyed 1997
Topographic sheet of Lee, surveyed 1886

Topographic sheets covering this place

38 sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

1 photograph,

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Merrell's Tavern, Main Street, South Lee, Berkshire County, MA
Merrell's Tavern, Main Street, South Lee, Berkshire County, MA
Unattributed, . Library of Congress

Fires nearby

27 since 2003

The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 27 fires within 5 miles of Lee between 2003 and 2020, burning about 15 acres in total. 1 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning11
Recreation and ceremony5
Missing data/not specified/undetermined4
Equipment and vehicle use4
Other causes2
Natural1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
18 September 2019Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
13 September 2016Other causesunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
4 August 2019Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
31 August 2019Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
7 July 2003Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMassachussetts State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
5 May 2015Debris and open burningunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
23 May 2015Debris and open burning1.0 acresMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
13 May 2020Debris and open burningunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Berkshire County

Specimens collected nearby

12 of 2,278 shown

Museums hold 2,278 specimens collected within 10 miles of Lee between 1833 and 1975: 1,122 Animalia, 871 Plantae, 277 Fungi, 3 Protozoa, 3 Unrecorded, 2 Chromista. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by A W Evans, A. Brown, A. E. Treat and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.

Image SpeciesYear Collected by Where, as recorded
Specimen of Potamogeton pusillus subsp. tenuissimus (Mert. & W.D.J.Koch) K.Richt.Potamogeton pusillus subsp. tenuissimus (Mert. & W.D.J.Koch) K.Richt.1900P. B. Weatherbee
A photograph of the species Betula alleghaniensis, not of this specimenBetula alleghaniensis Britton1833Collector unknown
A photograph of the species Betula pumila, not of this specimenBetula pumila L.1833Collector unspecified
A photograph of the species Carex utriculata, not of this specimenCarex utriculata Boott1833W. L. Worcester
A photograph of the species Dennstaedtia punctilobula, not of this specimenDennstaedtia punctilobula (Michx.) T.Moore1833Collector unknown
A photograph of the species Gymnocarpium dryopteris, not of this specimenGymnocarpium dryopteris (L.) Newman1833Collector unknown
A photograph of the species Parnassia caroliniana, not of this specimenParnassia caroliniana Michx.1834not recorded
A photograph of the species Platanthera peramoena, not of this specimenPlatanthera peramoena A.Gray1863J. T. StewartGlendale
A photograph of the species Spiranthes magnicamporum, not of this specimenSpiranthes magnicamporum Sheviak1863J. T. StewartGlendale
A photograph of the species Homalia trichomanoides, not of this specimenHomalia trichomanoides (Hedw.) Schimp.1867E. C. Howe
A photograph of the species Acer saccharum, not of this specimenAcer saccharum Marshall1897Vail, A.M.Tyringham
A photograph of the species Acer spicatum, not of this specimenAcer spicatum Lam.1897Vail, A.M.Vicinity of Tyringham

All 2,278 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Mines and quarries nearby

10 of 15 shown

The federal mineral resources record lists 15 workings within 5 miles of Lee: 8 past producers, 6 producers, 1 unknown. 6 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Iron, Marble, Dimension, Calcium. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Lee Lime CorpCalciumPast ProducerCalcite
Lee Quarry and MillStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Lee Marble Inc Qy & PlantMarble, DimensionProducer
Lee White Marble QuarryMarble, DimensionPast ProducerMetamorphic
Belden MineIronProducerLimonite
Belden MineIronPast ProducerResidual
Belden MineIronPast Producer
Abby PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Abby and Sons IncSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast ProducerSedimentary
Beacco PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every working recorded in Berkshire County

Storms nearby

40 since 1993

The National Weather Service names Lee in 40 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 30 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail, 5 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1998Thunderstorm WindSouth Lee$8,000no account filed
July 1997Thunderstorm WindLee$2,000no account filed
July 1997Thunderstorm WindLee$2,000no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindLee$2,000no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindLee$2,000no account filed
April 2026Thunderstorm WindLee-An amateur radio operator reported a large tree limb down on Spring Street in Lee, MA.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindLee-A couple of trees and a large branch were downed near Lee including on Prospect Street, William Parkway and on the Massachusetts Turnpike westbound.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindLee-Trees and wires were downed along East Street in the town of Lee.
April 2023Thunderstorm WindLee-A tree was downed on Lake Road in the Town of Lee.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindLee-Law enforcement reported a couple of trees down in the town of Lee.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindLee-Trees were downed.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindLee-Several trees were downed in Lee.
July 2021Flash FloodEast Lee-There was a report of flowing water moving across Housatonic Street.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindLee-Trees and wires were downed.
October 2020Thunderstorm WindEast Lee-Parts of Route 20 were closed in Lee due to downed trees.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindLee-A tree was downed blocking one lane of the Massachusetts Pike in the westbound direction.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindLee-Trees and wires were downed.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindLee-Wires were downed in the town of Lee.
September 2018Thunderstorm WindLee-A large tree was downed onto the front yard of a residence.
September 2018Thunderstorm WindLee-A pine tree was snapped on Summer Street.
September 2018Thunderstorm WindLee-A large tree was snapped onto power lines in the driveway of a residence.
May 2016Flash FloodLee-Heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding in Lee. East Center Street was impassable due to high water.
May 2016Flash FloodEast Lee-Heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding in Lee. Forest Street was impassable due to high water and debris.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindLee-A tree was downed due to thunderstorm high winds in Lee. The tree fell on a home resulting in minor damage.
May 2016Flash FloodSouth Lee-Heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding in Lee. Fairview street was closed due to high water and a car was trapped within the flood waters on Fairview Street beneath the Massachusetts Turnpike overpass.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindLee-Wires were reported down on Greylock Street in Lee due to thunderstorm high winds.
May 2016Flash FloodLee-Heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding in Lee. Greylock Street was closed due to high water.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindLee-Trees were reported down on East Street in Lenox due to thunderstorm winds.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindEast Lee-Large branches were reported down at the intersection of East and Maple Street in Lee due to thunderstorm winds.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindLee-One tree was reported down on Laurel Street in Lee due to thunderstorm winds.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindLee-Trees were reported down in Lee due to strong thunderstorm winds.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindLee-Trees, large tree limbs and wires were reported down near Lee due to strong thunderstorm winds.
June 2008HailLee-Quarter size hail was reported in Lee during a thunderstorm.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindLee-A trained spotter reported that trees and wires were blown down in Lee.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindLee-Trees down
August 2002HailLee-Numerous thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front during the afternoon and evening hours of August 2 across Berkshire County. One of the storms briefly pulsed to severe levels, depositing one inch diameter hail in the town of Lee.
August 1993Thunderstorm WindLee-Emergency Management, state police and Skywarn observers reported trees and wires downed in many parts of Berkshire County. Some roads were blocked in Stockbridge. About 1,500 customers were without power.
June 2001HailLee-no account filed
June 2001HailLee-no account filed
July 1997HailLee-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Berkshire County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
East Lee1.3 miles38
Lenox Dale2.2 miles38
South Lee2.4 miles42
Leisure Lee2.6 miles38
Lenox Station3.2 miles38
Wheatleigh3.6 miles42
Mahkeenac Heights3.7 miles42
Mahkeenac Shores4.0 miles42

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 607508. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.