1858 map provides new vision

PHOTO BY CHARLES FIELDS B ased on the five-footby five-foot 1858 "Map of the Counties

This 1858 map that features Nantucket is brought to life through a new book to benefit Nickerson History Archives at Cape Cod Community College. PHOTO BY CHARLES FIELDS of Barnstable, Dukes andNantucket, Massachusetts," by cartographer Henry F. Walling, publisher Adam Gamble, an alumnus of Cape Cod Community College, published a coffee table book to help raise funds for the W.B. Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives at Cape Cod Community College.

"I wanted to contribute to this great asset - the Nickerson Archives," said Gamble, who is the publisher of On Cape Publications. "I realize what a great democratic place, the community college is."

Gamble chose the 1858 map because it represented the period before the end of the Great Age of Sail and whaling.

"In 1859 the first oil refinery was built and there was a massive shift in economics," said Gambel. "Twenty-eight percent of the region was employed in the productions of candles and oil and another 15 percent was employed in the whale fishery. In a way, Nantucket and the Cape is frozen in time, stuck in that period, since many people lost their income and were unable to tear their houses down and rebuild.

A listing of island businesses in 1858. Walling was the pre-eminent American cartographer of that time.

"It is said to be Walling's masterpiece and part of that is due to the contours of our location that we all share on the Cape and Islands," said Gamble. "There are eight illustrations on the [greater] map and one of them is the Pacific Bank, which paid to be on the map."

The atlas-like publication documents roads and names of property owners and important geographic and topographical features, as well as tables of demographic statistics and distances.

"The book uses images from three different original copies held by Cape Cod Community College, the Harvard Map Collection and the Boston Public Library," said Gamble. "We were able to shoot images that were perfect and clear, using the best of all three maps."

Each section of the map is portrayed in full, enhanced color, and enlarged 12 inch by 12 inch page formats.

It features 96 original map sections, eight period illustrations and advertorial business listings of 1858.

Wellfleet writer Robert Finch contributed an essay to the book and noted, "One of the most valuable features of this map is that is shows, for the first time, not only every residence on the Cape and Islands, but the name of each and every head-of-household, inked in an elegant script. On a more human level, the map also speaks to an endearing sense of social stability."

The Nickerson Archives has a collection of 10,000 books, rare manuscripts, maps ship's logs, diaries and special collections, dating as far back as the 1600's. The Nickerson Archives are open to the public free of charge Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Copies of the book are available at www. ccccfoundation.org or by calling 508-362-22131. Ext/ 4439 and at local bookstores after Thanksgiving. I