|
||
|
|
|
|
Caledonia In The Year After The Great Fire of 1891
This 1892 lithographic bird’s-eye view of Caledonia, New York, produced by the Burleigh Litho. Co. of Troy, N.Y., presents a meticulously detailed aerial perspective of the village.
Drawn during the late 19th century, the view captures Caledonia’s urban and rural landscape, with an emphasis on its commercial, religious, and civic institutions. The legend below the image provides a directory of key locations, including railroad stations, churches, schools, and businesses, offering a glimpse into the town’s economic and social life at the time.
The map was likely executed by Christian Fausel, an employee of Lucien R. Burleigh, who was responsible—whether as an artist or publisher—for some 228 city views. Trained as a civil engineer, Burleigh turned to viewmaking during the economic recession of the 1870s. His technique involved working from an existing map, selecting an advantageous vantage point (typically 1,500 feet above ground for small towns like Caledonia), and sketching street-level details. Another crucial aspect of Burleigh’s work was securing subscriptions from local businesses and residents, as producing these maps required a minimum of 100 buyers paying $2.50 to $3.00 per copy for the project to break even.
This Caledonia view was produced in a pivotal year, as the town was still recovering from a major fire in 1891. The legend lists railroad stations, churches, the public school, and Seth Green’s Fish Hatchery, but the majority of the numbered locations denote businesses, reflecting a primary base of customers who would have purchased copies of this map.
Rarity
The view if very rare.
Reps locates 3 examples.
States
Reps, 2467.
![(New York-Robert C. Livington) [Revolutionary-Era Land Indenture]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/91957.jpg)
![Map of the State of New York with Part of Upper Canada [Large inset plan of New York]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/91848.jpg)
![[Niagara Falls] Wasserfall von Niagra](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/69038.jpg)
