1952 Map of Gwinn

About this map

Mining operations and rail infrastructure define the landscape of Forsyth in this early 1950s survey. The concentration of iron mining activity is evident through numerous specialized sites including the Princeton No 2 Mine, Austin No 1 Mine, and the Francis Mine. These industrial hubs are supported by a dense network of transit, most notably the Chicago and North Western and the Lake Superior and Ishpeming railroads, which weave between the growing settlements of Princeton, Austin, and Gwinn. The terrain is also marked by the winding courses of the East Branch Escanaba River and Middle Branch Escanaba River, while the nascent Sawyer Airport and the Gwinn Landing Field signal the mid-century expansion of aviation in the Upper Peninsula. Dozens of small lakes, such as Johnson Lake and Little Shag Lake, break up the timbered lands surrounding the industrial core.