Old Gillespie maps on display

The Gillespie Public Library has added to its permanent collection a series of Sanborn maps. Sanborn Map Company created maps of U.S. cities in the 19th and 20th century to allow fire insurance companies to access their total liability in U.S. 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 these maps on display until late July. The five- map series are (the following maps cover selected areas of town): 1894 - 2 maps, 1906 - 3 maps, 1899 - 3 maps, 1913 - 4 maps.

The most detailed are the 1925 maps that are in a booklet consisting of 18 maps which cover the entire city in 1925. This is the most interesting because Gillespie is now approaching a 100-year anniversary of the city at that time and your “old house or property” is probably on it.

If you have any questions, call the Gillespie Public Library at 217-839-3614.