1899 Map of Wilmington

About this map

The Deerfield River forms the central spine of this topographic landscape, flowing southward past Wilmington and through the valley that would later be transformed by hydroelectric development. This 1942 reprint of an 1889 survey captures the transition of the region, featuring the newly recorded Whitingham Lake along with the older settlement patterns of Whitingham and Jacksonville. The industrial and transportation needs of the late 19th century are evident in the path of the Hoosac Tunnel and Wilmington R.R., which snakes along the river toward Readsboro and the tunnel to the south. Prominent peaks like Haystack Mountain and Hogback Mountain define the high country of the Green Mountain National Forest, while smaller hamlets like Heartwellville and Davis Bridge illustrate the scattered community life of the Windham and Bennington county borders before major mid-century changes.