Loading map...

1953 Map of Peterborough

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Peterborough
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Peterborough and its neighboring villages in the Monadnock Region are defined here by a mid-century landscape of deep valleys, glacial ponds, and the winding paths of the Contoocook River and Souhegan River. The map illustrates the cultural significance of the area, featuring the renowned MacDowell Colony and the Edward MacDowell Grave near West Peterborough. Transportation is dominated by the Boston and Maine Railroad, which links manufacturing hubs like Greenville and Wilton Center to the broader New England corridor.

Upland landmarks such as Pack Monadnock Mountain and the Wapack Trail emphasize the region's recreational character, while institutions like Appleton Academy and St Joseph Minor Seminary anchor the local communities. For genealogists and local historians, the sheet is exceptionally detailed, noting numerous burial grounds from the Greenvale Cemetery to the Sacred Heart Cemetery, alongside the distinct 1950s footprint of rural settlements like Happy Valley and Sharon.