1945 Map of Cassopolis

About this map

Dowagiac and Cassopolis anchor this mid-1940s landscape, a region defined by an intricate network of rural schools and small-town commerce just before post-war expansion transformed the Great Lakes region. The map reveals a dense social infrastructure, with namesake educational landmarks like the Electric Light Sch near Niles and the Hardscrabble Sch in the north. The presence of the New York Central and Pennsylvania railroads highlights the era's reliance on rail for transporting local agricultural goods. In the southern reaches, Edwardsburg sits near a cluster of glacial lakes including Eagle Lake and Pleasant Lake, while the Dowagiac River winds through the western townships. Genealogists will find significant value in the distribution of family-named landmarks and cemeteries, such as the Winkler Cem and Barron Lake Cem, which speak to the deep-rooted settlement patterns of Cass County.