1959 Map of Baldwin

About this map

The Chesapeake and Ohio railroad corridor serves as the industrial and social spine of this Lake County landscape, connecting the regional center of Baldwin with the significant resort community at Idlewild. This mid-century survey illustrates a complex water network where the South Branch Pere Marquette River and its tributaries like Sweetwater Creek wind through the Pere Marquette State Forest. The map documents a transition from utilitarian land use, seen in numerous Gravel Pits and the Fish Hatchery, to a recreation-based economy centered around Idlewild Lake and Pine Grove Beach. Local history is anchored by rural institutions such as Dobry Sch and Riverside Sch, alongside several cemeteries including Webber Cem and Lake Cem. From the Ward Hill Lookout Tower to the Baldwin Landing Field, the map captures the organized infrastructure of the Manistee National Forest during a period of established seasonal tourism and forestry management.