1949 Map of Gobles

About this map

Glacial geology and a robust agricultural economy define this post-war landscape across the Van Buren and Allegan county line. The New York Central railroad corridor anchors the settlements of Bloomingdale and Gobles, while the surrounding townships are densely dotted with dozens of small country schoolhouses like Wager Sch, Evergreen Sch, and Lindsley Sch. This era captures a region transitioning its land use, shown through several active Oil Wells scattered near Healy Sch and the development of the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery and its associated Rearing Ponds in the southeast. Historical markers such as the Indian Cem near Chicora and the Pecktown Cem provide valuable evidence for genealogists, while the Paw Paw River and its various tributaries like Brandywine Creek and Swan Creek reveal the natural drainage patterns that dictated early road placement like Base Line Road.