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1956 Map of The Forks

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of The Forks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Kennebec River and Moxie Stream define this mid-century landscape in Somerset County, where the rugged interior of Maine was managed through a network of dams and timber-related infrastructure. The map highlights the engineering of the Harris Dam on the upper Kennebec River, creating the expansive Indian Pond and its spillway. Settlement is concentrated at The Forks, where the Kennebec River meets the Dead River, supported by local institutions like Ball Sch and Franklin Sch.

Outdoor recreation and wilderness navigation are central to the area's character, marked by the prominent path of the Appalachian Trail as it winds past Pleasant Pond and toward Bald Mountain. The presence of numerous ponds like Horseshoe Pond and Ellis Pond, alongside landmarks like Moxie Falls, suggests a region transitioning from active timber production—evidenced by various tote roads—toward the recreational identity it maintains today. Genealogists will find interest in the scattered settlements of Troutdale and Caratunk during this post-war era.