1894 Map of Norridgewock

About this map

The Kennebec River carves through the heart of the Somerset and Kennebec county borderlands, defined by a complex network of glacial ponds and rural river crossings. Near the northern bend of the river, Davis Ferry provides a vital link between Stark and the western reaches of Norridgewock. This 1891 survey documents a landscape of established small-town centers and the industrial infrastructure of the late 19th century, including the Somerville R. R. and Maine Central R. R. which skirt the eastern and southern edges of the region. The southern half of the map is dominated by a vast chain of interconnected waters, including Great Pond, East Pond, and North Pond, where small settlements like Belgrade Mills and South Smithfield grew around the water's edge. Family names are preserved in the terrain, from Burgess Hill to Mc Intyre Hill, marking the agricultural holdings of the era.