1931 Map of Gilchrist NW

About this map

Gilchrist and the southern reaches of the Upper Peninsula appear here during a period of transition, as the logging-era infrastructure began to integrate with the modern automobile age. The Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie railroad cuts across the southern corner of the map, paralleled closely by U S Highway No 2. This dual transportation corridor defines the local economy, connecting the remote timberlands to larger regional hubs. North of this corridor, the landscape is dominated by complex wetlands and a network of water bodies, including Pullup Lake, Cranberry Lake, and Dollar L. The survey highlights the boundary between Luce and Mackinac counties, where the drainage systems of North Branch Cold Creek and South Branch Cold Creek feed into the Black River. The intricate trail and secondary road network suggests continued activity in the woods well away from the primary highway.