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1937 Map of Harvard

Name: 1937 Topographic Map of Harvard
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1937
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1937

About this map

Harvard emerges as the central rail hub of McHenry County on this 1930s-era survey, where the Chicago and Northwestern RR creates a complex network of transportation through the landscape. The surrounding agricultural townships, including Alden, Dunham, and Hartland, are densely dotted with rural schoolhouses that serve as markers of the local community structure of the day. Named for early families and local landmarks, schools such as Burr Oak Sch, Stone Sch, and Mokeler highlight a vanished era of localized education.

The topography is defined by the drainage systems of Piscasaw Creek and the Kishwaukee River, which wind through the glacial terrain. In the northeast corner, the label for Big Foot Prairie marks a distinctive upland area near the state line. Genealogists will find significant value in the documentation of several burial grounds, including the St Joseph Cem and Oakwood Cem near the primary settlement, as well as the specialized Norwegian Cem located further west near Capron.