Ferran, Arch
1947

Humorous pictorial map of Concord, Massachusetts

Humorous pictorial advertising map of Concord, Massachusetts

DESCRIPTION: This pictorial map of Concord, Massachusetts and Vicinity was created by Arch Parrish in 1947 and distributed as a complimentary map by the South Bridge Boat House, Inc. The design captures the charm of postwar New England tourism with stylized illustrations of landmarks, forests, and waterways surrounding Concord. The map celebrates both Concord’s rich Revolutionary War history and its literary heritage, presenting the town as a place of reflection, recreation, and natural beauty. Artistic vignettes of trees, bridges, canoes, and historic homes lend a storybook quality to the region’s geography.

The composition balances historic Concord’s landmarks—such as the Old North Bridge, the Minute Man Statue, and the Old Manse—with the scenic rivers and countryside that made the area famous among writers like Emerson and Thoreau. Roads radiate outward toward neighboring towns including Bedford, Carlisle, Sudbury, and Lincoln, creating a sense of exploration beyond Concord’s borders. The inclusion of small figures, animals, and recreational scenes reflects the local popularity of canoeing, hiking, and sightseeing, all centered on the South Bridge Boat House, a long-standing hub for outdoor activities on the Assabet and Sudbury Rivers.

At the upper right, the cartographer cleverly distinguishes True North and Magnetic North, acknowledging the map’s playful yet practical intent. The legend identifies key cultural and natural attractions, helping tourists locate historic homes, churches, and mills. Issued at a time when automobile tourism was flourishing, this map served both as a navigational aid and as a souvenir, capturing mid-century nostalgia for Concord’s enduring role in America’s founding and literary imagination.

Of the many locations listed some of the most notable include:

No.	Site Name	Notes
1	South Bridge Boat House	Map issuer; canoe and recreation hub
2	Sanborn House	Historic home of Judge Hoar
3	Old North Bridge	Revolutionary War battle site
4	Battle Monument	Memorial at the bridge
5	Minute Man Statue	Symbol of colonial militia
6	Old Manse	Historic home near the bridge
7	Buttrick Museum	Museum by battle site
8	Sleepy Hollow Cemetery	Famous Concord burying ground
9	Alcott House	Home associated with Louisa May Alcott
10	Orchard House	Alcott family home; setting of "Little Women"
11	Thoreau's Birthplace	a.k.a. Wheeler-Minot Farmhouse

Archibald H. Ferran (d. 1978) was a long-time resident and a devoted public servant of Concord, Massachusetts. President of Concord High School Class of 1923, he studied at the New School of Design in Boston and with W.W.H. Bicknell in Provincetown. A commercial artist, he ran his own advertising agency, illustrated several books and pamphlets, and was associated with the Art Department of the Boston Globe. He served on Concord’s Board of Registrars, Special Town Plans Committee, and Board of Selectmen. In recognition of his service to the town, he was invited to join its 1975 Honorary Committee.

CREATOR: Ferran, Arch

PUBLICATION DATE: 1947

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: Concord River, Assabet River, Sudbury River

CONDITION: Good Good. A bit of darkening near the top but should mat and frame nicely.

COLORING: None

ENGRAVER:

SIZE: 10 " x 9 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 41

PRICE: $200

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