1952 Map of Dover West

About this map

The University of New Hampshire anchors the southern portion of this mid-century survey, a landscape defined by the winding paths of the Cocheco River and the Bellamy River. While the growing campus and the village of Durham show early post-war expansion, the surrounding townships of Madbury and Barrington remain largely rural, characterized by family-named landmarks like Hayes Hill and Stevens Hill. This geography is shaped by water and iron; the Boston and Maine RR and Maine Central RR bisect the terrain, connecting industrial centers to the smaller outposts like East Barrington and the Strafford County Farm. Local social hubs are clearly marked, from the Grange Hall near Blackwater Hill to the Madbury Church and several rural schoolhouses. The presence of Granite State Park and Willand Pond in the northeast suggests a transition toward more formal recreational spaces as the nearby city of Dover begins to exert its influence on the countryside.