1902
Maker: Portland & Rumford Falls Railway
Antique tourism booklet of the Rangeley Lakes area in Maine, issued by the Portland & Rumford Falls Railway, 1902. This booklet includes a double-sided, folded map and a booklet with photographs. By the later half of the 19th century, Rangeley was attracting sizeable publicity, especially for fly-fishing. An enticing 15 page article on the region was published by Harper’s New Monthly Magazine in 1877. Soon after, the railroads published their own regional travel guide to attract visitors. Cornelia “Flyrod” Crosby was probably one of the area’s most famous publicists. Her articles and fly casting demonstrations at eastern sporting shows had a major impact on drawing visitors and sportsmen to the Rangeley region. By 1900, fishing guides in the area numbered 200. One of the most famous guides was Herbie Welch, who arrived at Haines Landing in 1903. He was a champion fly-caster and served as a guide to Rangeley’s distinguished visitors, including former president Herbert Hoover. Another locally famous person was Carrie Stevens, who lived at Upper Dam in the 1920s -1940s and originated and tied approximately 100 fly patterns, with the popular Gray Ghost Streamer being one of these. During this period, some of the well known resorts included Camp Bemis on Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Mountain View House, Mooselookmeguntic House, Rangeley Lake House, The Barker, Bald Mountain Camps, The Birches on Students Island in Mooselookmeguntic Lake and Grant’s Kennebago Camps. The maps in the booklet are a map of the Rangeley Lakes Region and a railroad map showing the route from Portland, ME. Very good antique condition with minor signs of age. Booklet measures approx. 4 x 6.75 inches and the maps measure approx. 12.5 x 12.5 inches to the paper edges.
Item Number: MAI286