1958 Map of Balfour NW

About this map

Wintering River meanders across this McHenry County landscape, defining a terrain of wetlands and prairie flats during the late 1950s. The northern reaches are marked by the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie railroad, which parallels a series of water features including Stevens Slough and the expansive Connia Slough. This area is characterized by its glacial hydrology, where Paulson Lake and numerous unnamed potholes sit between the townships of Voltaire, Odin, and Olivia. Local life is anchored by the Bergen Cem and several locations of School No 2, reflecting the rural section-line settlement pattern of the era. The southern portion of the map highlights conservation efforts at the Cottonwood Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which surrounds the waters of Cottonwood Lake.