1949 Map of Monadnock

About this map

Monadnock Mtn dominates this mid-century New Hampshire landscape, a prominent landmark surrounded by a network of upland villages and glacial ponds. Compiled in part from Army Air Corps photographs and revised just after the war, the map documents the traditional settlement patterns of Cheshire County. Large bodies of water like Nubanusit Lake and Silver Lake are central features, while the Contoocook River drains the southeastern reaches of the quadrangle. Small railway-oriented hubs and industrial nodes are evident at Fitzwilliam Depot and Harrisville, contrasting with the more dispersed residential clusters at Bonds Corner and Beechwood Corners. The terrain is characterized by numerous named peaks including Gap Mtn and Little Monadnock Mtn, reflecting the area's transition from a hardscrabble agricultural past toward a recreational and scenic character. Cultural details include the distinct village centers of Jaffrey Center, Nelson, and Troy, showing the density of New England town life before modern suburbanization.