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1893 Map of Gorham

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Gorham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1909
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1909

About this map

Berlin and Gorham anchor this mountain landscape, which is defined by the industrial and transport corridor of the Androscoggin River. At Berlin Falls, the river’s power is harnessed amidst a complex network of rail infrastructure, including the Grand Trunk Railroad and the Boston and Maine Railroad, which follow the narrow valleys. The map illustrates the late 19th-century transition from wild mountain tracts like the Bean Purchase and Thompson & Meserve Purchase to a more settled economic hub based on logging and rail transit.

Away from the river, the terrain rises sharply into the high peaks of the White Mountains, featuring landmarks such as Carter Dome and Mt. Moriah. Local landmarks like the Glen House and the Ford at Shelburne highlight the early tourist and local travel routes through the notches. Numerous named brooks, including Mollywocket Brook and Peabody River, drain the high ridges, providing a detailed look at the drainage patterns that shaped early settlement and industry.