1959 Map of Evart

About this map

Evart and the surrounding township lands of Osceola and Evart dominate this 1950s landscape, where the Muskegon River and the Chesapeake and Ohio railway shaped local commerce. The map records a dense network of rural community centers, from the Stambaugh Corner settlement to the Hartwick Lookout Tower standing watch over the northern forests. Genealogists can identify numerous family-linked landmarks, including the Robinson Sch and several country houses of worship such as Bethel Ch and the West Grant Ch. The presence of Oil Wells and Gas Wells near Decker Ponds indicates the mid-century energy production that coexisted with the timbered tracts of the State Forest. From the clustered streets of Reed City to the smaller hamlets of Hersey and Grant Center, this survey captures the transition between industrial resource extraction and established rural life.