1953 Map of Peterborough

About this map

The Contoocook River and the Boston and Maine railroad corridor anchor the settlement patterns of this New Hampshire landscape during the early 1950s. The map highlights significant cultural and institutional landmarks, including the MacDowell Colony and the St Joseph Minor Seminary near Peterborough. In the southern reaches, the Cathedral of the Pines and Appleton Academy in New Ipswich Center reflect the area's deep-rooted educational and spiritual history. The terrain is defined by the prominent peaks of North Pack Monadnock Mountain and Pack Monadnock Mountain, the latter home to Miller State Park. Diverse industrial and social features appear across the townships, from the mills at Noone to the Sargent Camp on the shores of Halfmoon Pond. This survey details a transition from traditional river-and-rail industry to a region defined by its reservoirs, state reservations, and private institutions.