1949 Map of Ithaca West

About this map

Cayuga Lake defines the eastern boundary of this mid-century landscape, where the city of Ithaca transitions from its urban core to the rural uplands of Ulysses and Enfield. The terrain is characterized by dramatic glens and falls, notably within Robert H Treman State Park where Lucifer Falls marks the rugged descent of Enfield Creek. Significant institutional landmarks from the 1940s are documented here, including the Biggs Memorial Hospital and the I O O F Orphanage overlooking the water. Transportation networks of the era are clearly visible, from the Lehigh Valley railroad lines hugging the shore to the historic Catskill Turnpike cutting westward across the hills. Genealogists and local historians can locate smaller community centers like Quaker Settlement and various family-named corners such as Kennedy Corner and Whipple Corner before postwar suburban expansion changed the character of the town's perimeter.