1951 Map of Helena NW

About this map

The Escanaba River and its complex network of tributaries define this mid-century landscape in the Upper Peninsula, showing a region deeply tied to timber and mineral extraction. The map reveals the early industrial footprint of Marquette County, centered on the Gardner Mine in the northeast and the logging infrastructure represented by isolated outposts like Victor Larson Camp and De Shambo Camp. The Chicago and North Western railroad cuts across the terrain, illustrating the critical transportation links required to move materials from the interior to the Great Lakes ports. The hydrology of the area is particularly dense, with numerous water bodies including Feeding Ground Lake, Tonkowa Lake, and Long Lake interspersed among the Forsyth and Ewing township lands. The alignment of State Highway No 35 provides a primary transit corridor through this wooded, wetland-heavy territory.