1940 Map of Clear Lake

About this map

Clear Lake and its surrounding glacial kettle lakes anchor this 1938 survey of the tri-state corner where Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan meet. The landscape is defined by its complex hydrology, featuring numerous smaller bodies of water like Mirror Lake, Lake Anne, and Handy Lake, alongside significant wetlands such as Barnes Swamp and Big Swamp. The settlement patterns of the late 1930s are clearly visible, from the established village of Ray in the northwest to crossroads like York and Courtney Corner. Local infrastructure and social centers are well-documented, including the Clear Lake Ch, Powers Sch, and several family and community burial grounds such as Covenant Cem and Dygert Cem. Transportation routes of the era, including the historic Vestula Road and Highway No 20, facilitate travel across the multi-state boundary, while drainage systems like the Bruce Ryan Ditch reveal the agricultural management of the region's low-lying terrain.