1954 Map of Brussels

About this map

Calhoun Point anchors the confluence of two of America’s greatest waterways in the mid-1950s, where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi River. The rugged interior of the peninsula is marked by high elevations such as Knolle Hill and McAdams Peak, while the lowlands are dominated by a complex network of sloughs and lakes like Swan Lake and Gilbert Lake. The settlement pattern follows the high ground of Quarry Ridge and other interior heights, where small communities like Brussels and Centerville were established with their own local institutions, including Brussels Sch and St Josephs Ch.