1903 Scarborough / National Publishing Map of the White Mountains, New Hampshire

This large and impressive map of the White Mountains and central New Hampshire was published by the Scarborough Company, successor to the National Publishing Company, in 1903. It displays the region on the eve of the automobile era, when it was a favorite retreat of well-heeled tourists from Boston, New York, and beyond.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces central New Hampshire from Lancaster and Berlin Mills south to Lake Winnipesaukee, Cornish, South Danbury, and Alton Bay. Many individual peaks throughout the White Mountains are noted. Cities, towns, and villages are labeled, with communities served by post offices and railroad stations labeled as such. Grants and purchases around the area are labeled in different typefaces, with some marked in large bold lettering, while others, like the Allen grant in Waterville County, are much less noticeable.

Counties are demarcated and identified, and rivers and lakes are colored blue and labeled. Mountains are illustrated using contour lines, labeled, and their elevations provided. An index along the left side lists post offices, railroad stations, principal lakes and streams, and principal mountains, and provides the grid location for each one.

America's Favorite Mountain Retreat

Roads are illustrated, as are several railroads, including the Northern Division and the White Mountain Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad and several abandoned lumber railroads. Although not labeled as such, the 'Mt. Washington Ry.' Departing from Bretton Woods is the famous cog railway, the first such mountain-climbing cog railway in the world, already in operation 35 years by this point. The Mount Washington Auto Road, originally intended for carriages, is also visible (the first ascent by an automobile was completed only four years prior in 1899).

At the time of this map's publication, the White Mountains were the preferred rustic retreat of urbanites from Boston and New York City, both in the summer, when the heat and smells of the city became oppressive, and in the winter, as the mountains offered skiing and scenery that could not be had in an urban environment. With railways providing ready access, and entire economy grew to cater to this clientele, including luxury hotels such as the famed Mount Washington Hotel (in later decades, especially as automobiles became more widespread and affordable, tourists from a wider socioeconomic stratum began visiting the area in large numbers).

That being said, the White Mountains did not resemble the forested wonderland that one witnesses today. The logging industry was perhaps the only one which superseded tourism, resulting in the clearcutting of forests throughout New Hampshire in the late 19th and early 20th century. The establishment of the White Mountain National Forest in 1918, along with a decline of logging in northern New England, reversed this trend, laying the groundwork for the magnificent forests of today.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the Scarborough Company of Boston, Massachusetts around the year 1903, based on a slightly earlier map (previously sold by us) by the National Publishing Company. This map is listed among the holdings of eight institutions in the OCLC, while the earlier printing under National Publishing is held by nine.