Hastings, ME map

[vegematic]

Anyone know of a book or website or anyplace else that has a map of the logging village at Hastings, ME? I'm interested in finding evidence of some of the old buildings. I've come across plenty of old cellar holes in the area but would love to know what used to stand above them. I have "Logging Railroads of the White Mountains" but I'm hoping for a more detailed map.
-vegematic

 

[chas]

There isn't alot online about Hastings but I did find one site of interest (see text below). According to part of their Gilead story at that site, you may have some luck talking to someone at the Gilead Historical Society, there are some folks there that seem to have some knowledge of the area.

From that site;
"22 December 2005
I was talking to Joe Taylor the other day, and we got onto the subject of Hastings. He said that he did a tour for the Forest Service this past summer. I am in hopes that since he is a member of the GHS, he will consent to do a tour for the members this next summer. He can point out sites where the lumber mill was, the wood alcohol mill and later on the CCC camp buildings site; just to mention a few. This is all very interesting to us, since Hastings had such a connection to Gilead. A couple of days after talking with Joe, I saw his brother, Ted Taylor, and we got to talking about the Bog Brook area. We have talked to Ted in the past, and he mentioned where there were several house sites that were still visible. Both Joe and Ted have knowledge of both of these areas. Their father, Harry Taylor, Sr., worked in Hastings and told them many stories. They have hunted and explored the Bog Brook area for years."

Here is a link to that site

Chas.

 

[Jazzbo]

UNH Historic Maps Site

Vegematic

Refer to UNH Historic Maps link below:

http://docs.unh.edu/ME/bthl14sw.jpg

That should give you an idea of the extent of the town. Although it doesn't say anything about what each little black square is.

This site and others like it a great resource for history buffs. I've been reading up on Whate Mt logging RR's myself and can't wait to start prospecting for town sites and camps this year.

 

[Amicus]

Thanks for the "UNH historic maps" link

http://docs.unh.edu/ is a wonderful resource, as I've just discovered from studying a 1930 survey map of our little corner of NH. That was a surface-scratcher, I see, and the 1878 Hitchcock Geology of NH and 1892 Hurd Town and City Atlas of NH look very promising. There are so many great things on the web that a knowledgeable tip is always welcome.

 

[Raymond]

I remember the name Hastings from an article in Yankee magazine a couple decades ago, at least, but I don't think there was any map. Sort of near Stow, Maine, wasn't it? Evans Notch? I think I may even have bought the Wild River topos trying to learn more about it.

There were many New England ghost towns mentioned in that article, but I doubt I have any of those old Yankees anymore, darn it. Or much memory of those ghost towns, either.

 

[jjmcgo]

Gotta love goggle

Looking for more info on the ghost town, Hastings, I googled and got sites for swingers, nightclubs, Christian women, single girls and where to play bingo in Hastings, N.H.

 

[el-bagr]

I know I've seen quite a few pictures of Hastings in operation. The Portland Public Library's Maine Collection has quite a few historic books in the archives, none of which circulate, but I believe there was one on Hastings -- or maybe it was a section in the Bethel history. Next time I'm in there I'll take a look.

 

[Zimmer]

There is an excellent book on the history of the Wild River Valley that includes pictures and a discussion of Hastings, but I'm having a senior moment here and my copy of it isn't accessible so I can't tell you what it is. Someone help me out here!

Another suggestion is to go to the local WMNF Ranger station in that area. They often have (generally hand-drawn and crude) maps of the old settlements.

ETA: I think the book is called "The Wild River Wilderness" by DB Wight. I would guess that it's out of print, but it's not that hard to find.

 

[el-bagr]

The Portland Public Library does indeed have DB Wight's The Wild River Wilderness -- in fact, they even have one copy that does circulate.

I know I saw an older book in the closed stack archive last year. Vegematic, you can always get the Wight book on interlibrary loan (if I don't snag it first!) and if you don't get down this way much, I could probably go take some pictures of the pages in the closed archive book.

 

[Waumbek]

Anyone know of a book or website or anyplace else that has a map of the logging village at Hastings, ME?
-vegematic

I have not seen it, but the Gilead Historical Society has recently published a book on the history of Hastings ME (a logging camp, then CCC camp, now the Hastings campgound). Hastings was adjacent to Gilead. See the 31 August 2006 post at the bottom of the page of this link. You might be able to reach the GHS through the Bethel Historical Society, which maintains the site that hosts this GHS page:

Bethel Historical Society, 10-14 Broad Street, P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217
207-824-2908; 800-824-2910; 207-824-0882 fax; [email protected]

 

[Davehiker]

Here's another thread in which this town was mentioned. Not much specific info, but worth a view.

 

[J&J]

How's this? From The Wild River Wilderness, A Saga of Northern New England by D.B.Wight. An excellent book by the way on the history of the area.