Historic Maps of Warren County
Researched, written, and curated by Dominic Giordano
Introduction
Many people throughout time worked to survey the lands we now inhabit. Since the beginning of interest in the wilderness area, many cartographers have traversed Warren County and the Adirondacks and have mapped out the beautiful landscape for what it truly is. In this exhibit, you will see how some cartographers kept track of the Warren County area and how mapping as a practice developed and evolved over time.
Seneca Ray Stoddard was a late 19th century photographer and cartographer born in Wilton, (Saratoga County) NY, 1844. His works helped to popularize the Adirondacks as a tourist destination and displayed the naturalistic beauty of the landscape. In his youth, he left his home to follow his desire to create illustration and advertising, and in his 20's he developed a love for photography. He went on to publish tourist guides on the Lake George and Lake Champlain regions, and in 1874 issues the first tourist map of the Adirondacks. Stoddard died in his home in Glens Falls in 1917, leaving behind a legacy of cartography and accomplishment of introducing a new found tourist hot-spot to the general public.
Verplank Colvin was a 19th century lawyer, author, illustrator, surveyor, and engineer who contributed greatly to the foundation of New York's forest reserve and the Adirondack Park. The Adirondack Almanack states, "Between 1872 and 1900, perhaps no man traversed the Adirondacks more than Verplank Colvin." At the age of 18 Colvin was given an 1860 book called "Woods and Waters" by Alfred Billings Street. The book detailed Street's personal expeditions into the Adirondack wilderness, and from reading this, Colvin was greatly inspired. He went on to climb Mount Marcy in the summer of 1869 and become the first to record an ascent of Seward Mountain in 1870 where he recorded the extent of deforestation in the area. His report would reach and be read at Albany Institute where it was presented to state officials. He then went on to commission surveys and became the Superintendent of the Adirondack Survey. Colvin, however, was a deeply controversial character as many reports by employees say that he was never good at planning; he was terrible at keeping records, and was very particular in his engineering projects. It is also said that he was overly concerned with his own personal accolades with enabled his harsh reactions to those who worked under him. Nevertheless, he was a driving force for the exploration of the Adirondacks and will forever remain crucial to the process.
Displayed Maps
Map 1: Carte De La Nouvelle Augleterre. 1757 Jacques Bellin.
This map was done by an 18th century Spanish Cartographer who was employed by the French government to map the upstate New York region. The map was chosen for this exhibit because it serves as a great view into what the earliest maps of the Adirondack area looked like. An interesting thing to note is the way Lake George looks on this map; we now know that the way it is depicted here is indeed incorrect.
Map 2: Samuel Adams Patent. August 31, 1767.
Contrary to what you might be thinking, this was not a land patent for the famous Samuel Adams. This Samuel Adams was granted this plot of land from the British military as he was employed and served for said military. This map was chosen because it serves as a great testament to the simplicity of maps during this age and how unaware settlers and cartographers were of the area at this time. This patent is also thought to have the first documented house in Warren County.
Map 3: North West Bay Tract. 1811 Simeon Dewitt.
The North West Bay Tract is a mapping of grants and plots on Lake George's west shore. It displays grans purchased by the many merchants and farmers who began to truly see the significance of the Adirondacks at the time. It was chosen to symbolize a growing rush of attraction to the Adirondacks established all throughout the 1800's and beyond. It was an example of the progress made in mapping as shown in other maps in this exhibit.
Map 4: Map of Allotment of Hyde Township. 1811.
The Hyde Township map is a survey with defined land grants. Just as the North West Bay Tract map, it is a symbol of the push throughout time to settle the forested landscape that is the Adirondacks.
Map 5a & 5b: Maps of Warren County. 1829. David Burr.
The David Burr map of Warren County is one of the earliest maps of Warren County in its entirety. Warren County was established in 1813, and this map displays land grants spread all across each region of the county in bright and vibrant colors.
Map 6: Map of Warren County. 1858. J. Chase Jr.
Notice the difference in color between the previous map and this one. This 1858 map again shows the grants and patents of Warren County, but it shows more developed regions such as Glens Falls and Warrensburg that were rising to prominence.
Map 7: Adirondack Survey. 1873. Verplank Colvin.
This piece was chosen to showcase the work of renowned Adirondack surveyor and cartographer Verplank Colvin and his surveying team. Verplank Colvin organized efforts to survey and preserve the Adirondacks, and he was an important figure in the development of the region.
Map 8: Map of Lake George. 1890 Seneca Ray Stoddard.
This map showcases the work of Seneca Ray Stoddard who was (just as Colvin) a consequential figure in mapping the Adirondack region. The map displays beautiful colors and greatly represents Stoddard and his cartography style.
Map 9: Sanborn Map of Glens Falls. 1901 Sanborn Map Company.
At the turn of the century, fire insurance companies across the nation commissioned Sanborn Maps to be drawn for heavily populated areas. They document building outlines, height, construction materials (brick, wood, stone, etc.).
Map 10: Adirondack Forest Conservation Commission. 1923.
The forest conservation commission provides a complete survey of the entire Adirondacks at the time and this greatly displays how far exploration of the region has come by this point and how much more accurate maps are becoming. By this point in history, mapping of Warren County and the Adirondack region will be held to a much higher standard than that of the late 18th century. With more advanced technology and tools, mapping became marginally easier and became higher quality as well.
Map 11: Highway Department Map of Warren County. (Unknown Date).
The Highway Department is actually a particularly interesting map. Displayed on the map are the 1940 Census results of Warren County, but it does not list a date of publication. There is one way we can tell the age of the map based on roadways. Since there is no interstate 87, we can automatically tell that the date of this map is before 1957.
Map 12: Topographic Map of Glens Falls. 1966 Geologic Survey.
Topo maps are dedicated to the geology of a given region. They display the height of land and information on waterways. This map is produced with great quality and is a representation of the modern technology used to create and produce maps. It also stands as an example of technological innovation and was chosen to be our example of topographic maps and their importance.
Map 13: Adirondack Park Open Space Protection Plan. 1990 Commission on The Adirondacks.
This map was chosen to showcase the advanced printing methods and construction of maps we see now in the digital era. With an advanced key and in depth detail we can truly see how far mapping has come from the beginning of the presentation. The methods used now are indeed revolutionary.
Map 14: Warren County Highway Map. 2007. Jimapco.
This is the most current, formerly printed map of Warren County.
If you would like to be able to view each map in a bigger size, or save and print out the maps above, click on the links below:
