Quote:
Originally Posted by Long Pine
In response to gokart-mozart's questions above, I have an 1892 map of Alton in my home that shows some of the older road configurations. It also shows the names of the homeowners. It is a different map than the one mcdude showed above. You can see it and zoom in/out at the following link.
http://www.wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=4977
It seems to show that there was no 28A then. There was the Old Wolfeboro Rd you mentioned that intersects the current 28 across from the current 28A. As you mention, current evidence of the connection between this point and Gilmans Corner Rd is not visible on modern maps, but I suspect the route may have been on the west side of the current 28 near the Catholic Church. Then the route would have continued on Gilmans Corner Rd and turned left onto the current Quarry Rd which becomes Roberts Cove Rd. Then I think that it followed the current Roberts Cove Rd across the current 28 and onto Rines Rd where it turned left onto what is marked in Mapquest as Stagecoach Road. This continued northeasterly until it intersected with the current Rt 28 near Gould Rd right before the Wolfeboro line. The last portion of this connection is no longer a road but if you are on the current 28, you can see the old road grade on the east side of the highway. That is my best guess for how the old route made its way through Alton based on the 1892 map. The last part of the route I mentioned from Roberts Cove Rd to Rines Rd to Stagecoach Rd was based in part on the recollection of a neighbor who has been coming to the lake for many years. |
Google Earth seems to show "shadow" roads which corroborate a lot of what you say. Old 28 followed current 28A to the current East Alton gas station, then traced a route just to the West of current 28, following Hidden Springs Road to become Gilmans Corner Road-Quarry Road-Roberts Cove Road. It appears, though, that Roberts Cove Road followed a slow, sloping approach now marked on the maps as "Pond Road" to merge with present Route 28 near the Wolfeboro line, rather than crossing present 28 as Rines Road-Stagecoach Road. I've walked Stagecoach Road from Rines Road, which is impassible to vehicles, and it's hard to believe it was ever an auto road.
If anybody can identify the Old Wolfeboro Road-Hidden Springs Road intersection, please speak up.