1956 Map of Beechwood

About this map

The boundary between Michigan and Wisconsin defines this 1950s landscape, where the Paint River and its various branches weave through the dense timberlands of the Ottawa National Forest and Nicolet National Forest. Small settlements such as Beechwood and Elmwood are situated along the rail corridor of the Chicago and North Western, which served the region's logging and mining interests. The map captures a moment of active forest management and academic study, evidenced by the University of Michigan Forestry Camp on Golden Lake and fire monitoring stations like the Golden Lake Lookout Tower. Further south, the community of Nelma sits near the Brule Lookout Tower and the Elvoy Sch, marking the rural infrastructure of the era. The terrain is defined by an intricate network of water bodies, from Smoky Lake to Tamarack Lake, connected by named runs and creeks like Cooks Run and McAllister Creek.