1978 Map of Houghton

About this map

Houghton and Bemis anchor this 1970s orthophotoquad, which replaces traditional topographic contour lines with a direct aerial view of the Maine woods. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the Swift River and its West Branch, which carve through the dense timberland and steep rises of Ten Degree. Because this is an orthophotograph, researchers can see the actual texture of the forest cover and the precise layout of local clearings and roads as they existed when the imagery was captured in late October 1978. The relationship between the settlement at Houghton and the surrounding water bodies, including Bemis Lake, is shown with photographic clarity, providing a raw look at the industrial and natural geography of Franklin County before modern forest management changed the canopy patterns.