Old mountain names in Maine

[BillDC]

I've been looking though old literature looking for old lost trails in Maine and have come across an old mountain name that I can't quite find on any modern maps. Sourdnahunk Mountain is discussed as a prominent peak and would seem to be up in Baxter territory based on other adjacent peaks.

Based on the descriptions, it would appear that this mountain may be N or NW of Doubletop somewhere in the Nesowadnehunk Lake area. The dates on the literature range from 1880s through 1920.

To confuse things, some old (1914/1915) Maine Maine Forestry reports also report that there was supposedly a Sourdnahunk Mountain in T1 R11 WELS. And the name "Sourdnahunk" was officially replaced with the name "Nesowadnehunk" by the US Geographic Board in 1929.

Anyone have any idea where Sourdnahunk Mountain is?

Bill

 

[spencer]

I don't anything for sure but here are a few points of interest:

1. My 1930 copy of "Hubbard's Lumbermen's and Tourists' Map of Northern Maine 1879-1929" does not show a Sourdnahunk Mtn. in either of the locations you mentioned.
2. You probably already know that Nesowadnehunk roughly means stream flowing among mountains. Sourdnahunk (the spelling at the time of question) was used to refer to a quite vast area.
3. Soubunge Mtn. (T4-R11) was my first guess. It's a prominent mountain by itself on the west side of the Telos Rd. It stands by itself and can be seen from many, many vantages. However, it was already names Soubunge on my Hubbard's map. I couldn't find my book that has the origin of many Maine place names and I don't remember what Soubunge translates too.
4. There is a small, unnamed to my knowledge, mountain just north of where the Williams Pond Rd. joins Nesowadnehunk. It shows up very prominently on my Hubbard's map but not on modern maps. In reality, it's not prominent at all and is about 1900 feet with a flat ridge-type summit.
5. My best guess is Strickland Mtn., which is just east of Nesowadnehunk Lake and from some directions is very prominent. In the late 1800s it was referred to as Strickland's Mtn., after Major Hastings, a lumberman from Bangor who had operated in the Telos area.

If you want more details on Strickland, send me a pm sometime. I'd enjoy looking at the complete text you have that refers to Sourdnahunk Mtn. If I read that I might have some more ideas for you.

Hope this helps a bit.
spencer

 

[RoySwkr]

In the late 1800s it was referred to as Strickland's Mtn., after Major Hastings, a lumberman from Bangor who had operated in the Telos area.

Hmm... ;-)

 

[spencer]

Major Hastings Strickland, of course

 

[BillDC]

Spencer may be right. I forgot that some of the old AMC White Mountain guides had sections on Katahdin. Checking tonight, the 1922 version didn't have it, but the 1920 version has a crude map of the Katahdin region showing this mountain. It's slightly northwest of "Doublehead Mountain".

This edition has an expired copyright, so Google Books has this scanned at the following link -

Guide to the Paths in the White Mountains and Adjacent Regions

The scan is hard to see (the hardcopy is a bit better). This map is a sketch with "some details from memory", so the scale is a bit to be desired.

Bill

 

[spencer]

That's an atrocious map for the era of 1920! Of course, it's done somewhat from memory (see map credits) so we can let it slide

Judging by the proximity of the Sourdnehunk Mtn. to the Sourdnahunk Lake, it is most certainly Strickland. Also, what is labeled as Doublehead (not Doubletop) seems more like Center Mtn. while the big, unlabeled blob on the west side of the stream is more likely what we call Doubletop today. Center Mtn does have two summits and viewed from the southeast or northwest it is "doublish", although clearly not as much as Doubletop.

Note the second map (page 420?) shows Doubletop roughly where it should be. It's as though the cartographer (Parker Field) recognizes two mountains with double tops in his two maps.

It's really interesting that the first map differentiates between the Saddle and the Tableland. Most people refer to the whole thing as the Tableland but this map shows the difference. Cool!

will the real Doubletop, please stand up?

Bill, depending on what old trails you are looking for I might have better sources for you.

 

[Fitz]

Suddyhunk

I googled it and I did find an old post card of "Sourdnahunk Mountain", but the on-line version is pretty much illegible.

Here is a photo south from "Suddyhunk Lake". Maybe you guys could pick the peak out from the range.

 

[RoySwkr]

Judging by the proximity of the Sourdnehunk Mtn. to the Sourdnahunk Lake, it is most certainly Strickland. Also, what is labeled as Doublehead (not Doubletop) seems more like Center Mtn. while the big, unlabeled blob on the west side of the stream is more likely what we call Doubletop today.

I have the advantage over Spencer that I know what Bill is looking for

Based on the map, I think that Sourdnehunk is actually Center Mtn where there was a fire tower, and Doublehead is Wassataquoik which does have a double summit (or more) and is S of Wassataquoik Lake

 

[BillDC]

Interesting analysis. I've stared at it for a while and could consider either conclusion. I figured Roy would be onto me sooner than later. Old records show a Fire Tower being constructed there in 1914, so I figured an investigation for artifacts was in order.

Interestingly enough, I was also scouting out a route for a wack up Center Mountain for the same reason, but if they are one in the same mountains, then that's a bonus.

Thanks for all the input so far!

Bill

 

[spencer]

I had an epic day on Center a couple years ago. I didn't find the old jeep trails that show up on some maps so I had a thrash of a time. I have a few doubts in my mind b/c Roy has assured me the tower was on the summit but there's no way I can imagine there was a tower on the summit where I was. From where I was I couldn't see beyond the mountain itself b/c of the clouds but I could make out the lower summit and I was clearly on a very sharp point with nothing on any side of me.

Anyone have an exact location of where the tower was? Or some pictures from the summit? I stuck something I found along the way on a tree at the summit. Try not to poop yourself when you see it.

spencer

 

[BillDC]

Haven't been up Center yet, though had the opportunity to try it on a wim one day after getting done early with another hike. After bad memories of an aborted Lily Bay attempt with little planning, I decided to not try.

I have very little on Center from a trail perspective. I have only one photo of the summit from 1919. My oldest AMC Katahdin guide from 1949 says the trail is obliterated. The oldest Topo I could find (1953 - Telos Lake) does not show anything. The area may have been logged. All other guides say something similar.

I'll keep looking, though if anyone has a better description, please post!

Thanks,

Bill

 

[RoySwkr]

I have a few doubts in my mind b/c Roy has assured me the tower was on the summit but there's no way I can imagine there was a tower on the summit where I was.

I found some old wire on the highest point of Center many years ago, so I assume that's where the tower was although I don't know for sure. The tower was probably logs that rotted away and the wire may have sunk into the ground by now.

I'm more interested in the tower on Pogy which an old guidebook assures me was lying on its side on the S summit but Spencer & I didn't find.

 

[BillDC]

Pogy was constructed of logs and erected in 1916. It was actually replaced by Center tower in 1919, but Center was a steel tower. Center was discontinued by 1923. There was concrete footings and a log watchmans cabin on Center as well. All of this must have been removed long ago.

Based on descriptions, it sounds like Center tower was on the highest summit. Pogy being all logs could have completely rotted away by the time you got there.

What approach to Center did you take?

Bill