1963 Map of Bellmore

About this map

Little Raccoon Creek defines the landscape of eastern Parke County, its course interrupted by the significant reservoir of Cecil M Harden Lake. In the early 1960s, this area maintained a hybrid identity of rural hamlets and emerging recreational spaces like the Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area. The transportation network is anchored by the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which cut across the terrain near settlements like Guion and Milligan. Local history is deeply etched into the map through numerous family and community cemeteries, such as Seybold Cem and Lough Cem. In the village of Portland Mills, the presence of the Portland Mills Ch and Ford Cem near the water's edge illustrates the intersection of community life and the changing river valley. Notable landmarks like the Covered Bridge near Waveland Lake reflect the enduring nineteenth-century infrastructure still in use during this mid-century survey.