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1909 Map of Fryeburg

Name: 1909 Topographic Map of Fryeburg
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Lovell and the surrounding borderlands of western Maine are defined by a complex network of glacial ponds and river systems as they appeared in 1909. The landscape is dotted with several localized rural centers such as North Lovell, Slab City, and Lynchville, each serving the surrounding agricultural and timber-rich hills. Educational life is documented through numerous small institutions, including the Menotomy School, Foxboro School, and Black Mountain School, which emphasize the distributed nature of the population before mid-century consolidation.

Industry and transport are evidenced by the Maine Central railroad cutting through the south near Fryeburg, while the White Mountains Line road suggests the region's early importance for travel. Distinctive landmarks like the Battle Monument and the Fairgrounds in the southern portion of the sheet point to established community gathering places. From the Kezar River to the shores of Middle Bay, the map captures a period of high rural density in Oxford Co before larger town centers drew residents away from the uplands.