1879 Butler and Cooper Map of the Western Adirondacks, Hamilton County, New York

Encouraging creation of the Adirondack Park.

This is an 1879 Benjamin C. Butler and James A. Cooper map of the western portion of the Adirondacks. Published 13 years before the establishment of Adirondack Park, this map likely played a role in promoting the park's creation as well as encouraging tourists to visit the region.

A Closer Look

Centered on Hamilton County, the map illustrates the western portion of the Adirondacks and includes parts of St. Lawrence, Franklin, Essex, Herkimer, Fulton, Saratoga, and Warren counties. Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and mountains are identified. Towns and post offices are marked, and townships are delineated. Two iron mines are identified in St. Lawrence County. The Schenectady and Ogdensburg Railroad traverses nearly the entire map, underscoring the newfound ability for tourists to reach this previously remote part of New York.

Publication History and Census

This map was compiled by Benjamin C. Butler, drawn by James A. Cooper, and lithographed by Weeds, Parson and Company, and published in 1879. We note 5 examples cataloged in OCLC, which are part of the collections at the New York Public Library, Yale University, the Fenimore Art Museum and the Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, New York, Skidmore College, and the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. We note only one other instance when this map has appeared on the market in the last decade.

Cartographers

Benjamin Clapp Butler (April 20, 1820 - November 16, 1882) was an American surveyor, lawyer, newspaper editor, entrepreneur, politician, and army veteran. Born in Oxford, New York, to James Clapp and Julia Hyde Butler Clapp, Butler's mother died when he was twelve years old. He was sent to live with his maternal grandparents, who adopted him and changed his name to Benjamin Clapp Butler. After attending Oxford Academy, he studied law in Saratoga, New York, and became a lawyer. He owned and edited the Saratoga Sentinel for several years. He moved to Luzerne, New York, in 1845. At the beginning of the American Civil war, Butler volunteered and helped organize the 93rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He recruited and enlisted over half of the men in the regiment. He received the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on February 5, 1862, and fought in the battles of Spotsylvania, North Anna River, Chickahominy, and the battles during the Siege of Petersburg. He was wounded in the hand at the Battle of Poplar Grove Church and was mustered out in February 1865. After the war, Butler returned to Luzerne, New York, where he remained for the rest of his life. He became a fixture in the community, helping raise the funds to build the St. Mary's Episcopal Church and building the Wayside Inn to help entice tourists to the region. He was also instrumental in getting the Delaware and Hudson Railroad to run through Hadley, New York. Butler also served as Supervisor of the Town of Luzerne from 1875 - 1876.   Further Details...

Weed, Parsons and Company (July 25, 1843 - July, 1892) was a New York based printing house based in Albany, active in the second half of the 19th century. The firm was founded by J. B. Weed (???? - June 18, 1851) and John D. Parsons. Weed, the son of Thurlow Weed, previously worked for the Evening Journal. Parsons was a compositor in the printing offices of Packard and Van Benthuysen. Shortly after their startup, the firm received financing from Visscher Ten Eyck, one of the owners of the Evening Journal to dramatically expand their printing operation. Leveraging Parsons' contacts with the state, the firm began receiving lucrative government printing contracts out of Albany. By 1868 they were one of the largest printing concerns in the United States. Their offices were gutted by a major fire on April 7, 1871. The owners rebuilt with new more modern equipment and continued to operate, with heirs taking over the shares of the original owners. They remained in operation until the firm went into receivership in July of 1892.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Mounted on linen. Light wear along original fold lines. Slight loss at a few fold intersections.

References

OCLC 18482636.