This morning I found online images of an 1897 folding map of Salem, Danvers and nearby towns. I like this closeup view showing parts of Danvers where I grew up:
View of Danvers portion of 1897 folding map
On it, I can clearly see Nichols Street running past "Dales Hill" and continuing straight across the north-south route labelled "Newbury" (Newburyport turnpike). In my earliest years, Nichols Street did continue that way, going straight beyond our house, which was at 120 Nichols Street, at the corner with Preston Street. My grandparents lived behind us, with their driveway and address on Preston. My father's business started up in their garage, adjacent to our backyard. And we played, climbed trees, sledded and skied on Dales Hill (though I didn't then know it by that name).
Portions of these roads were re-named after the 1950 reconstruction and widening of the Newburyport turnpike (Route1) cut Preston Street into two segments. The segment near us was re-named Nichols Street, and the older northern portion of Nichols Street, still a dirt road, was given a new name (Speedwell Place) and abandoned. It no longer continued over the hill to the old ice pond at Ferncroft.
My grandparents joked about having to MOVE from 123 Preston Street to 124 Nichols Street, but in reality only their mailing address and house number needed updating.
Below is an image of the whole folding map, unfolded:
A Map of City of Salem and towns of Marblehead, Peabody and Danvers
This map shows the train routes and stations as of 1897.
