1943 Map of Henderson

About this map

The eastern shore of Lake Ontario defines the geography of Jefferson County during the mid-war period, where the village of Henderson serves as a hub between the harbor and the surrounding dairy and orchard lands. The landscape is marked by a network of drainage and transport, notably the Graham Creek Canal and the winding course of Stony Creek, which connects the interior to Henderson Bay. This 1943 survey, mapped by the Tennessee Valley Authority for the Corps of Engineers, reveals a densely settled rural society organized around family-named corners and crossroads. Numerous small burial grounds, such as Stowles Cem and Gallea Cem, are interspersed among the farms of Rural Hill and Hungerford Corners, providing essential data for researchers tracing local families and the lineage of the Ellisburg and Henderson townships. Coastal features like El Dorado Beach and the protected waters of Sawyer Bay hint at the area's dual character as both a working landscape and a nascent recreational destination.