1975 Vaughn Surber Gray Pictorial Map of Litchfield County, Connecticut

This is an attractive, 1975 Vaughn Surber Gray pictorial map of bucolic Litchfield County, in northwestern Connecticut. The map is bordered by Massachusetts and New York to the north and west, with the counties of Hartford, New Haven, and Fairfield bordering the east and south.

A Closer Look

Cartographically, it is modern in execution, with towns and cities in the county labeled, as well as mountains, ponds, lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Roads are distinguished by their quality, and state parks, forests, ski areas, camps, and nature conservancy areas are marked. Features are explained in a detailed legend at the bottom left.

The border decorative elements are presented in the style of county maps of the previous centuries, illustrating notable landmark structures: Salisbury Town Hall, the Gay-Hoyt House, the West Cornwall covered bridge, the Sloane-Stanley Museum, the Kent Memorial Library, the New Milford band stand, the Washington Congregational Church, the Hitchcock Chair Factory, the state's old turnpike, and traditional New England stone walls that line the area are depicted, among other features.

The map was intended for tourists as an advertiser for local trade (a directory of subscribing businesses appears on the verso.) The overall presentation is nostalgic, emphasizing the historic and picturesque nature of the county and detailing its colonial and American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783) history. The map's 'ye olde' presentation extends to the mapmaker's signature, 'Yr. most Humble and Obedt servant, Vaughn Gray'.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by Vaughn Surber Gray, and published for him by Kent Stationery. Examples are listed in the collections of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, Illinois University, and the Library of Congress.