More Map Questions

[BIGEarl]

Recently I posted a question concerning the naming of Mount Hight. My curiosity came from information shown on some old maps that I had the opportunity to examine for an extended period of time.

I’ve found another detail that has the better of me. On a USGS map for Crawford Notch, Edition date 1896, survey date 1892-3, the ridge along which the Davis Path follows (including Mt. Crawford, Mount Resolution, Stairs Mountain, Mount Davis, and Mount Isolation) has a slightly different name from the one listed in the White Mountain Guide and on recent maps. I do not have a copy of the most recent AMC map for the area and can’t say how it compares to the old map.

The name listed on the USGS map of 1896 is Mont Alban Ridge. The current reference to the same area in the White Mountain Guide and recent maps is Montalban Ridge.

I have tried to locate Mont Alban in New Hampshire without success. I have found references to Mont Alban Ridge on the Crawford Notch quadrangle on-line.

Does anybody know which name is correct?

 

[Amicus]

Earl,

John T. B. Mudge's interesting The White Mountains - Names, Places & Legends, which Fisher Cat cited on your last question, says:

"[Montalban] is the very simple anglicization of the Latin 'Mons' Mountain and 'Albus' White or White Mountain."

That has always sounded plausible to me, and it would be arbitrary whether a map-maker made it one word or two.

 

[BIGEarl]

Thanks. It looks like a trip to a book store or library is in order.