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1956 Map of Holderness

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Holderness
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Pemigewasset River carves a deep valley through this mid-century New Hampshire landscape, serving as a vital corridor for both the Boston and Maine RR and local industry. Centered on Ashland, the map reveals a transition from industrial riverfronts to the sprawling recreational waters of Squam Lake and Little Squam Lake. To the south, the Ayers Island Dam indicates the controlled management of these waterways, while the surrounding hills are marked by numerous family-named peaks like McGrillis Hill and Hopkinson Hill.

Preserved lands such as Scribner-Fellows State Forest and Sky Pond State Forest punctuate the wooded uplands between the river and the eastern lakes. The map captures established settlements like Meredith and Bristol at a time when the region's character was defined by a mix of timber, small-scale farming, and the growing draw of the Lakes Region. Researchers will find a dense network of country roads connecting isolated hamlets like Gaza and Winona to the larger town centers.