1963 Map of Barnes Lake

About this map

Barnes Lake and its surrounding wetlands form the center of this Lapeer County landscape during the early 1960s. The area is defined by a dense cluster of kettle lakes, including Millers Lake, Littlefield Lake, and Dipper Lake, many of which supported emerging residential pockets like the one found at Barnes Lake. Educational and spiritual life is marked by the Millis Sch and the Deerfield Church of Christ, providing clear points of reference for genealogists tracing families near the small settlements of West Deerfield and Maxwell. Much of the western terrain is dedicated to the Lapeer State Game Area, illustrating a transition toward conservation and recreation. The geography is further organized by the winding courses of the North Branch Flint River and South Branch Flint River, which dictated the early road network and the placement of numerous gravel pits found throughout the township.