Watch Hill Maps Fire Insurance – Part 2
Detailed maps of US cities were made starting in the late 1800s by the Sanborn Map Company , showing building sizes, materials, and the local water system. These maps helped companies ( in far off places like New York City) assess the fire risk when they wrote fire insurance policies.
The Larkin House Hotel in 1891, at a time of peak activity.
Fire Insurance maps were made so that insurance companies in far-off cities could write insurance policies without visiting a locale like Watch Point.
The yellow house color denotes a wooden structure, somewhat risky. “Gasoline Tank Underground” would be a positive feature for insurance.
The Larkin was torn down in 1906.
The 1891 map shows 3 other hotels a bit east of the Larkin.
The grandest of the Watch Hill hotels was the Ocean House.
Note the nearby “Servant’s Quarters” in 1891.
See below for later views of the Ocean House.
The Watch Hill Merry Go Round still sits at its 1891 location (??).
The Plimpton House 1891
A 1902 map of Watch Hill shows an expanded Ocean house.
The “Servant’s Quarters” of 1891 is now callled “Help’s Quarters”
The trolley (aka “Electric Railroad”) waiting room was on Bay Street at the end of a pier.
1902 map.
The Ocean House expanded yet again as shown on the 1907 map.
Bigger and better in 1912.
That ends my quick review of the Watch Hill fire insurance maps. d. allen Aug, 2025
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