1955 Map of Hertel

About this map

Deep forests and a dense network of glacial lakes define this 1950s landscape across northwestern Wisconsin. The small community of Hertel sits as a central hub, surrounded by dozens of named water bodies like Middle McKenzie Lake and the sweeping Kilkare Marsh. This era of the lake country is characterized by a high density of rural schoolhouses, many serving family farming pockets that have since consolidated. Educational landmarks such as Gaslyn Creek Sch, Scott Sch, and Moro Sch are clearly marked alongside spiritual centers like Sacred Heart Ch and the Evangelical Ch. Local history researchers will find several family-named landmarks and infrastructure of the period, including the McKenzie Lake Lookout Tower and a series of rural cemeteries like Leef Cem and Green Grove Cem. The map illustrates a transitional time in the Northwoods when localized rural institutions were still the primary structure of community life.