This colorful bird’s-eye view print of Bristol, New Hampshire was drawn and published by George E. Norris, Beck & Pauli Lith. in 1884. Bristol is a picturesque town lying amongst the scenic waterways flowing from Newfound Lake. Its mountainous location and good irrigation afforded good farming of hay and cereal grains, as well as abundant fruit orchards in the early years.
In 1880 Bristol’s population rose to 1,353. Being situated at the confluence of the Newfound River with the Pemigewasset, Bristol became a manufacturing center during the 1800's. David Mason, Nathan H. Weeks and B. F. Perkins began their paper mill operations along the Newfound River in 1871. The firm also maintained a straw-board mill closer to town. The river powered numerous mills and manufactories during that era. Edward D. Crosby operated a saw mill and a manufactory producing croquet sets, ten pins and chair stock. Calley & Currier’s crutches were produced in Bristol for worldwide shipping. There were grist and woolen mills and wood production facilities as well as brick works.
Bristol became a popular vacation destination in the mid-1800's, as New Englanders began to discover to natural beauty of the area. Visitors to the lake could enjoy sailing the calm scenic waters aboard the steamer “Lady Ellen”, operated by E. M. Drake.
The Bristol Weekly Enterprise began publication in 1878 as a small sixteen-column newspaper. The Enterprise was begun by Richard W. Musgrove after his endeavors as an U. S. Army officer during the Indian wars. The publication’s circulation increased along with Mr. Musgrove’s popularity, and he was elected to the state legislature in the year of this map’s publishing.
The illustration includes labeled roads, bridges, buildings and railroad route. Featured is an inset illustration of an extension of Lake Street and the Woolen Mills.
Features references to the following locations:
Methodist Church.
Congregational Church.
Free Will Baptist Church.
Town Hall.
Public Library.
Graded School.
Post Office.
Bristol Savings Bank.
Depot, Bristol Branch of Northern R. R.
Mount Cardigan.
Bristol Weekly Enterprise, R. W. Musgrove.
Bristol House, O. K. Bucklin, Proprietor.
Brown’s Hotel, O. K. Bucklin, Proprietor.
Mason, Perkins & Co., Paper Mill.
Mason, Perkins & Co., Straw Board Mill.
N. H. Pulp and Paper Co’s Pulp Mill.
N. H. Pulp and Paper Co’s Paper Mill.
Mason & Berry, Pulp Mill.
Dodge, Davis & Co., Woolen Mill.
Bucklin & Robie, Carriage Shop.
George A. Robie, Machine Shop and Foundry.
L. D. & C. H. Day, Marble Workers.
Fling & Chase, Lawyers.
K. E. Dearborn, Lawyer.
Dr. Fowler’s Office.
Dr. George H. Calley’s Office.
Dr. J. M. Bishop’s Office.
Quincy A. Ballou, Dentist.
Charles W. Coolidge, Dentist.
Cyrus Taylor, General Merchandise.
William George, Dry and Fancy Goods and Notions.
Dickinson & Horner, Clothing, Gent’s Furnishing Goods, Boots and Shoes.
Charles Boardman, Dry Goods and Groceries.
Seavey & Co., Dry Goods and Groceries.
Fred. W. Bingham, Stoves and Tinware.
C. H. Calley, Fruit and Confectionery, etc.
George H. Kendall, Fruit and Confectionery.
J. D. Follansbee, Fish and Oyster Market.
Bucklin & Co., Market.
Bucklin & Fowler’s Livery.
F. H. Briggs, Photographer.
A. B. Pray, Jeweler.
M. W. White’s Block.
Solomon Cavis’ Block, H. T. Alexander, Dry Goods and Groceries.
Rollins’ Block.
Fowler’s Block, C. H. Whitten & Co., Drugs, etc.
Bingham & Forrest’s Block.
Arthur W. Prescott, Fruit, Confectionery, etc.
E. D. Crosby & Co., Croquet Sets and Chair Stock.
E. D. Crosby & Co., Saw Mill.
Taylor & Gordon, Wood-workers.
E. M. Drake, Piano Stools, Saw and Shingle Mill.
B. L. Wells & Co., Planing Mill.
E. K. Pray, Tannery and Bobbin Mill.
Mark Pray, Bobbin Mill.
Taylor & Shaw, Grist Mill, Flour, Corn, Meal and Feed.
J. A. Haynes, Carriage Shop.
A. P. Harriman, Plymouth Buck Glove Manufacturer, Boot and Shoe Dealer.
M. A. Kent, Plymouth Buck Glove Manufacturer.
Calley & Currier, Crutch Manufacturers.
Warren E. Locke, Carriage Jack Manufactory.
W. C. Kelley, Flour and Grain Mill.
Quint & Simonds, House, Sign and Carriage Painting.
M. O. Edgerly, Gun and Sewing Machine Repair Shop.
C. A. Pearson, Blacksmithing.
Anson Buxton, Blacksmithing.
Clarence A Smith, Blacksmithing.
Frank Bingham, Harness Manufacturer.