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1914 Map of Bethel

Name: 1914 Topographic Map of Bethel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Bethel serves as the central hub of this pre-World War I era survey, situated at the confluence of the Androscoggin River and the Grand Trunk R R. The map reveals a landscape defined by its mountain peaks and river valleys, where small farming and logging communities like North Bethel, West Bethel, and Hastings are linked by rural roads and bridges. A dense network of local education is visible through several district schoolhouses, including the Sunday River School, Peabody School, and Flat School, reflecting the era's decentralized community structure.

The terrain is marked by high elevations such as Goose Eye Mtn and Mt Will, which frame the narrow corridors of the Sunday River and Bear River. Genealogists and local researchers can locate family-named landmarks and specific local institutions like the Town House in Albany or the Bethel Cemetery. The presence of features like the Albany Basins and Songo Pond highlights the importance of water resources to the region's early 20th-century economy and settlement patterns.