1956 Map of Penacook

About this map

Daniel Webster Birthplace and the Daniel Webster Home for Children anchor the historical landscape of this region, which was surveyed at the mid-century as the Merrimack River valley industrial and residential hubs continued to expand. The convergence of the Winnipesaukee River and Pemigewasset River at Franklin highlights a classic New England river-town geography, where the Boston and Maine RR corridors once provided critical transportation links. Infrastructure of the era is prominent, including the Franklin Falls Dam and the Blackwater Dam, which significantly altered the local drainage patterns. Educational and civic life is reflected in sites like the Kezer Seminary and the Soldiers Home, alongside numerous rural schoolhouses such as the Carter Sch and Plains Sch. Further south, the map details the winding course of the Merrimack through Boscawen and Penacook, revealing a dense network of country roads and family-named landmarks like Gerrish Corner and Snyders Mill that offer significant value for genealogical research.