1917 Map of Chesaning

About this map

The Shiawassee River snakes northward through the heart of this Central Michigan landscape, anchoring a network of small agricultural settlements and rural schoolhouses during the early twentieth century. This survey reveals a highly organized drainage system, with numerous named arteries like Wilson School Drain and Blackmer Drain supporting the productive farmlands of St. Charles and Albee. Industrial activity is concentrated at the Six Mile Mine near New Haven, while the Michigan Central Railroad follows the river's course to connect Chesaning with Oakley and Henderson. To the south, the northern limits of Owosso appear, where the Ann Arbor Railroad and Grand Trunk Railroad converge. The map serves as a detailed record of local genealogy, capturing dozens of district schools such as Morleytown School and Dutchtown School, as well as the Griffus Cemetery.