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1937 Map of Gorham

Name: 1937 Topographic Map of Gorham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1937
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1937

About this map

The Androscoggin River carves a path through the heart of this White Mountain landscape, serving as the industrial and transportation corridor for Berlin and Gorham. In the late 1930s, the region was defined by its timber and rail connections, with the Grand Trunk Railway and Maine Central Railroad tracing the riverbanks and valley floors. This survey captures a moment of significant federal investment in the back-country, notably seen in the presence of the CCC Camp Gorham and CCC Peabody Camp, marking the labor of the Civilian Conservation Corps in developing the White Mountain National Forest.

The terrain is a dense network of trails and summits, including the Appalachian Trail and the beginning of the Mt Washington Auto Road near Glen House. From the high ridges of Mt Moriah and the South Carter Mtn to the small settlements of Shelburne and Upper Village, the map illustrates a landscape transitioning from raw extraction toward recreation. Researchers can find numerous backcountry shelters like Imp Shelter and named landmarks such as Leadmine Ledge that speak to the local history of mining and mountain travel.