The Gillespie Public Library has added to its permanent collection a series of Sanborn Maps. Sanborn Map Company created maps of US cities in the 19th and 20th c. to allow fire insurance companies to access their total liability in US cities.
The maps take sections of the city and code them into different types of structures. Some blocks are quite detailed, especially the downtown areas.
The library has on display these maps until late July. The 5-map series are: (the below maps cover selected areas of town)
- 1894- 2 maps
- 1899- 3 maps
- 1906- 3 maps
- 1913- 4 maps
The most detailed is the 1925 maps that are in a booklet consisting of 18 maps that cover the entire city in 1925. This is the most interesting because we are now approaching the 100-year anniversary of the city at that time and your “old house or property” is probably on it.
For any questions, call the Gillespie Public Library at 839-3614