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1919 Map of Gilmanton

Name: 1919 Topographic Map of Gilmanton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1919
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1919

About this map

Gilmanton Ironworks and the surrounding townships of Belknap and Merrimack Counties represent a landscape of high ridges and established agricultural centers at the end of the first World War. The terrain is defined by prominent elevations such as Catamount Mountain and Cogswell Mountain, which overlook a network of lakes and ponds including Crystal Lake and Shellcamp Pond. The map reveals a dense social infrastructure for a rural area, with numerous named schoolhouses like the Bennett School and Gales School serving dispersed upland communities.

Industry and faith are central to the settlement pattern, anchored by landmarks like Shaker Village and the Smith Meetinghouse. The Boston and Maine Railroad cuts through the southeastern corner at Pittsfield, while the village of Loudon Centre and the various "Corners"—such as Rings Corner and Kelleys Corner—illustrate the importance of crossroads in early 20th-century commerce. Water power remains evident at Abbotts Mills and Websters Mills, tracing the legacy of local milling along the Suncook River and its tributaries.