Lake Spofford through the years
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Above:    ca. 1770 Proprietor’s Map    ———–  1774 (1784)  Holland state map ————–   1816 Carrigain map —————
The lake was first called Spafford’s lake, as seen in these very early maps.  On the left is a section of the town Proprietors’ Map, which is probably the oldest map of the lake.  The other two maps are excerpts from two important state maps. The Holland map of New Hampshire  (named for the author, Samuel Holland) was published in 1784, but the information dates to about 1774 when the surveys were completed.   On the right is a section from the 1816 Carrigain map of New Hampshire. This map derives from the 1805 town plan discussed elsewhere on this site.

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Above:               1858                                               1877                                                                     1892
These three 19th century maps show the lake evolving into a resort community.  On the left we see one house on the lake in 1858, while on the right, 1892, there are dozens of houses on the shoreline.  And in 1892 it is called Spofford’s Lake for the first time on a map.  This lake tracks the growth of the American middle class. The products made in Factoryville on the 1858 map were shipped to faraway places and led local residents to an improved standard of living. Greater personal wealth here and in other places allowed for recreation  on New Hampshires beautiful lakes. In 1877 the Prospect House (hotel) accepted guests who arrived here by stage coach from nearby train stations. The

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Above:       1893 topo                                               ——-                                                    1954

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1940

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Above: 1940