Loading map...

1957 Map of Alton

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Alton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The Blue Hill Range anchors this mid-century landscape where New Hampshire’s lakes and hills meet established crossroads. The topography is defined by prominent peaks like Blue Job Mtn and the narrow passage of Barn Door Gap, which separates the high ground of the New Durham Ridge. Settlement patterns are distinctly concentrated around historic corners and junctions, such as Stockbridge Corners and Meaderboro Corner, reflecting a rural infrastructure built on early turnpikes and local roads.

Transport and industry are visible in the path of the Boston and Maine RR through Farmington and the specialized Powder Mill Fish Hatchery near Merrymeeting Lake. Genealogists and local historians can find a wealth of specific landmarks including the Austin Cate Academy and several rural schoolhouses like the Nute Ridge Sch. The transition from the recreational shoreline of Lake Winnipesaukee at Alton Bay to the interior forests and ponds suggests an era where the region's character was balanced between seasonal tourism and a quiet, year-round farming and milling economy.